Essentials of Music

ONLINE GLOSSARY

Click on a letter above to look up terms in the online glossary

Jabissary music Music of the military corps of the Turkish sultan, characterized by percussion instruments such as triangle, cymbals, bell tree and bass drum as well as trumpets and double-reed instruments.

jarabe Traditional Mexican dance form with multiple sections in contrasting meters and tempos, often performed by mariachi mariachi ensembles.

jazz A musical style created mainly by African-Americans in the early twentieth century that blended elements drawn from African musics with the popular and art traditions of the West.

jazz band Instrumental ensemble made up of reeds (saxophones and clarinets), brass (trumpets and trombones), and rhythm sections (percussion, piano, double bass and sometimes guitar).

jia hua Literally "adding flowers"; an embellishment style in Chinese music using various ornamental figures.

jig A vigorous dance developed in the British Isles, usually in compound meter; became fashionable on the Continent as the gigue; still popular as an Irish traditional dance genre.

jongleurs Medieval wandering entertainers who played instruments, sang and danced, juggled and performed plays.

jongleuresses Female jongleurs, or wandering entertainer/minstrels.

jota A type of Spanish dance song characterized by a quick triple meter and guitar and castanet accompaniment.

Click on a letter above to look up terms in the online glossary