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# Glossary

AABA form
  A formal structure widely used in Western popular music of the twentieth century, in which an initial section (A) is introduced and repeated, a contrasting section (B) is introduced, and the first section (A) is repeated again.

ālāp
  In Hindustani classical music, an introductory section in which a singer or instrumentalist improvises in a rhythmically free style.

antarā
  The first part of the song heard in the bandiś.

atalaku
  In Congolese rumba, a vocalist who takes over from the lead singer during the seben. The atalaku frequently exhorts listeners to dance and addresses existing or potential sponsors.

bandiś
  In Hindustani classical music, the part of a performance that draws on a previously composed song.

body
  In powwow song, the part of the song form that follows the lead and its repetition/extension by the seconds.

cadential
  A term used to describe musical material that marks the close of a musical section or creates a sense of arrival. Derived from the word ‘cadence’.

chorus
  In Western song structure, a section in which both melody and words are repeated. The chorus is often sung in alternation with other sections of a song (especially verses) and frequently contains the most memorable and engaging musical material.

chorus (jazz)
  In improvised parts of jazz performance, a single statement of (i.e. one time through) the form of the song.

classical music
  An elite form of music, typically requiring extensive training of participants. Classical musics often have their origins in royal courts and religious institutions and are often funded (wholly or in part) through patronage. Sometimes called art music.

Congolese rumba
  A form of popular dance music originating in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Rumba shares some commonalities with Cuban rumba but is in most respects a distinctive style.

contrast
  A formal technique involving the presentation of musical material that has not been heard before.

elision
  The overlapping of one section of music (e.g. the end of a melody) with another.

embedding
  The nesting of a smaller form or forms within a larger one.

form
  (adj. formal) The organisation of music in time.

genre
  A style or kind of music.

harmonium
  A keyboard instrument whose sound is produced with the help of a bellows.

head
  In jazz, the main melody, often presented at the beginning and the ending of the performance of a piece.

honour beats
  In powwow song, a series of loud drum stokes heard during the body of the song. Sometimes also called check beats or hard beats.

improvising
  Making up music in the course of a performance, typically within the constraints of a particular style.

interlude
  In Western song, a passage of music without words in the middle of a song.

introduction
  In Western song, a passage of music, typically without words, at the very beginning of a song.

jazz
  A musical genre rooted in African American expressive traditions, including blues and gospel, and making extensive use of improvisation and cyclical forms.

khayāl
  A genre of Hindustani classical music.

lead
  In powwow song, (a) the solo singer who performs the melody at the beginning of the song and (b) the melody that the singer performs.

melody
  The melody or tune is the sequence of notes to which a singer puts the words of a song. It is distinct from the words and can be performed without them, for example when whistling or humming a song.

musical
  A Western stage drama featuring music in a popular style.

nesting
  The embedding of a smaller form or forms within a larger one.

popular music
  An accessible form of music, typically regarded as less elite and more commercially oriented than classical music.

powwow
  First Nations/Native American gatherings at which participants, typically wearing special regalia, dance to songs performed by singing groups seated around large round drums. These gatherings range from small community celebrations to large multi-day events that bring together thousands of people.

powwow song
  Songs sung at powwows. This term frequently refers to songs in the widely used a′abcbc form.

prime
  A mark (′) used to indicate that a repeated section is varied in some way.

repetition
  A formal technique involving the presentation of musical material that has been heard before.

seben
  In Congolese rumba, a livelier and more danceable section that arrives part of the way through a song and continues to the end. The seben often features exhortations to dance and calls to existing and potential sponsors, spoken or sung by an atalaku.

seconds
  In powwow song, the group of singers who repeat and extend the solo melody (the lead) heard at the beginning of the song.

sthāyī
  The second part of the song heard in the bandiś.

structure
  The organisation of music in time.

tablā
  A pair of bowl-shaped drums used to accompany performances of Hindustani classical music.

tanpūrā
  In Hindustani classical music, a plucked stringed instrument that plays sustained drones.

variation
  A formal technique involving the altered presentation of music that has been heard before.

verse
  In Western song structure, a section that has the same musical content as other verses, but different words. Verses tend to have more text and be more focused on narrative than choruses.

vocables
  Sung words that do not have a fixed meaning.

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OpenLearn - Introduction to music theory 1: form
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