Basso Continuo
A method of thickening musical textures by augmenting the bass line.
Decrescendo
A steady and gradual decrease in volume.
Frequency
The number of times a sound wave repeats every second (Hz).
Harmonic
One of an ascending series of sonic components that sound, although sometimes imperceptibly, above a clearly audible fundamental pitch.
Homophony
A musical texture consisting of one melody and an accompaniment that supports it.
Imitative Polyphony
A musical texture featuring two or more equally prominent, simultaneous melodic lines, those lines being similar in shape and sound.
Monophony
A texture comprising a single line of musical tones.
Polyphony
A musical texture featuring two or more equally prominent melodic lines played at the same time.
Sprechstimme
A vocal style that combines elements of song and speech.