Devices

• What is repetition?


  A musical idea is repeated exactly.
• What is imitation?

  An idea is copied in another part(e.g. different instrument)
• What is a sequence?

  Repetition of an idea in the same part at a lower/higher pitch.
• What is Ostinato?


  A short repeated pattern or phrase.
• What is a drone?

  A long held or constantly repeated note(s).
• What is an arpeggio/broken chord?

  The notes of a chord played individually.
• What is Alberti Bass?


  A broken chord accompaniment (I,V,III,V) common in the classical era.
• What is anacrusis?

  An upbeat or pick-up before the first strong beat.
• What is a dotted rhythm?

  A rhythm using dotted notes(giving a 'jagged' or 'bouncy' effect)
• What is syncopation?

  Off-beat accents.
• What is conjunct?

  Notes that move in step
• What is disjunct?

  Notes that move in leaps/intervals.
• What is regular phrasing?


   When the phrase length is the same throughout the piece.