VMTA Theory 2013 New Terms Glossary

12­Tone (dodecaphonic) – Using a strict ordering of the chromatic scale

Asymmetrical Rhythm – Rhythmic patterns or meters that mix triple and duple

Atonality – Lacking a tonal key center; Freely avoids a tonal center through heavy chromaticism

Augmentation – When a melody, theme or motif is given proportionately longer duration values

Bitonality – Simultaneous use of two scales in different keys

Changing Meter – Altering the time signature within a piece of music

Cluster Chord – Three or more adjacent notes played together

Contrametrics – Rhythmic patterns that go against the meter

Diminution ‐ When a melody, theme or motif is given proportionately shorter duration values

Dominant Seventh (7th) Chords – A seventh chord built on the fifth tone of a scale

Hemiola – 3/2 rhythmic ratio, or duple feel in triple meter

Non­Traditional Use of Piano – Altering the traditional sound of the piano strings without use of prepared materials (i.e. muting or creating harmonics with the hand)

Pandiatonicism – Diatonic tonality which avoids traditional chord movement; Freely using all the notes of a diatonic scale without hierarchy

Parallelism – Movement of two or more lines in the same direction and rhythm

Pentatonic Scale – A five note scale

Percussive Piano – Using the wooden surfaces of the piano to make knocking, slapping, or drumming sounds

Polyrhythm – Different rhythms used simultaneously; Simultaneous use of rhythms with different subdivisions

Polytonality – Simultaneous use of different tonalities

Prepared Piano – Altering the sound of the piano through external methods (i.e. muting strings with erasers, changing the timbre with bolts or other objects)

Quartal Chords – Harmony built on fourths

Quintal Chords – Harmony built on fifths Secondary Dominant Chords – The dominant chord of the fifth tone of a scale (used in temporarily changing keys)

Split Thirds (3rds) – A chord simultaneously using both the major and minor 3rd degree of the scale and labeled with (3!). Example: C, E‐flat, E‐natural, G.

Whole Tone Scale – Scale made up of only whole steps

Also Added – Names of Scale Degrees:

Tonic, Supertonic, Mediant, Subdominant, Dominant, Submediant, & Leading Tone

*The definitions above are simplified for the benefit of the students, but are derived from the Oxford and Grove Dictionaries of music with the exception of the term “contrametrics”, which comes from Nicolas Slonimsky.