Essentials of Music

ONLINE GLOSSARY

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

lamellophone Plucked idiophone with thin metal strips; common throughout sub-Saharan Africa.

lamentoso Like a lament.

largo Broad; very slow.

Example: Chopin, Prelude in E minor, Op.28, No.4
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The pace of this mournful piano work is very slow.

Latin rock Subgenre of rock featuring Latin and African percussion instruments (maracas, conga drums, timbales).

legato Smooth and connected; opposite of staccato.

Leitmotif "Leading motive", or basic recurring theme, representing a person, object or idea, commonly used in Wagner's operas.

libretto Text, or script, of an opera, prepared by a librettist.

Lied German for "song"; most commonly associated with the solo art song of the nineteenth century, usually accompanied by piano.

Lieder Plural of Lied.

lining out A call and response singing practice prevalent in early America and England; characterized by the alternation between a singer leader and a chorus singing heterophonically.

lute Plucked-string instrument of Middle Eastern origin, popular in western Europe from the late Middle Ages to the eighteenth century.

lyre Ancient plucked-string instrument of the harp family, used to accompany singing and poetry.

lyric opera Hybrid form combining elements of grand opera and opéra comique and featuring appealing melodies and romantic drama.

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