Types of Musical Style

1. Symphony - a large, full scale orchestral work in several movements.

2. Opera - a large stage work with singing.

3. Overture - orchestral introduction to an opera.

4. Aria - a solo song sung in an opera, performed by the main characters with orchestral accompaniment.

5 .Oratorio - a dramatic piece of music with no acting.

6. Suite - a selection of dances (short dance movements in Baroque style).

7. Motet - a sacred choral work from the Renaissance and Baroque periods, three parts often sung in (no bass).

8. Madrigal - a secular version of the motet. A part song usually unaccompanied and polyphonic.

9. Cantata - a sacred or secular vocal piece with accompaniment (sometimes orchestral), including contrasting sections of recitative duets and arias.

10. Mass-a musical setting of set texts (kyrie, gloria, credo, benedictus agnus dei) for choir.

11. Requiem - a mass for the dead.

12. Fugue - a contrapuntal piece in two or more parts, either vocal or instrumental.

13. Lied - a German romantic song.

14. Symphonic poem - an orchestral piece that depicts a story or scene.

15. Programme Music - music which attempts to tell a story, as no.14 above.

15. Sonata - an instrumental piece for a solo or duet.

16. 12 bar blues - a piece of music based on the chord repeated sequence 1, 1, 1, 1, 1V, 1V, 1, 1, V, 1V, 1, 1

17. Ragtime - a jazz piece for piano (ie.the entertainer)

18. Rock 'n' Roll – quick 12 bar blues, with drums and electric guitars.

19. Reggae - music from Jamaica, the chords being played on the off-beat (ie. beats 2 and 4)

20. Concerto - soloist + orchestra (eg. piano concerto, violin concerto)

21. Sonata - soloist + piano

22. Cadenza - a solo within a concerto ... no accompaniment

23. Fanfare - Brass piece for ceremonial occasions.

24. A Capella – unaccompanied vocal piece.

25. Recitative - Vocalist half-sings and half-speaks in opera.

26. Plainchant - Unaccompanied and sung by monks.