Glossary

jazz

A style of music of Afro-American roots characterized by a strong rythmic understructure, blue notes, and improvisation on melody and chord structure.

Jubilate

A hymn of praise, usually based on Psalm 100.

just intonation

Any system of tuning in which all intervals are pure (represented by ratios of small whole numbers) rather than tempered.

K

Used instead of opus in numbering compositions of two composers.

  1. “Köchel”, the cataloguer of Mozart’s works.
  2. “Kirkpatrick”, the cataloguer of Domenico Scarlatti’s works.

Kapellmeister

“Master of the chapel.” Director of music for a church or royalty.

key

The tonal center based on the tonic note of the scale.

key signature

The sharps or flats written on the staff at the beginning of a piece to indicate the key.

Kyrie

“Lord.” In the Mass, the first part of the Ordinary.

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