📚 Year 12 CIE Music: Quick Guide to Memorising Key Terms | Year 12 CIE 音乐：词汇术语速记指南
Mastering the technical vocabulary of music is essential for success in the Year 12 CIE Music syllabus. Whether you are analysing set works, responding to listening questions, or writing stylistic essays, precise terminology allows you to describe what you hear with accuracy and confidence. This guide organises key terms by musical element, providing clear English explanations paired with Chinese translations, so that you can build a systematic understanding while linking concepts across both languages. Use it as a revision checklist and as a daily reference during your practice.
掌握音乐专业词汇是在 Year 12 CIE 音乐课程中取得成功的关键。无论你是在分析规定作品、回答听力问题还是撰写风格论文，精准的术语都能让你准确而自信地描述你所听到的音乐。本指南按音乐要素将关键术语分门别类，提供清晰的英文解释并配以中文翻译，帮助你建立系统化的理解，同时在中英两种语言之间建立联系。请将其用作复习清单，也作为日常练习时的常备参考。
1. Dynamics and Expression | 力度与表情标记
Dynamics indicate the relative loudness or softness of a passage, while expression marks add nuance to its emotional character. CIE examiners expect you to identify and describe gradual or sudden changes, as well as subtle expressive instructions commonly found in Western art music scores from the Baroque to the 20th century.
力度标记表示乐段的相对响度或轻柔程度，而表情标记则为其情感特质增添微妙变化。CIE 考官要求你能识别并描述渐进的或突然的变化，以及巴洛克至 20 世纪西方艺术音乐乐谱中常见的细腻表情指示。
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| pianissimo (pp) |
Very soft. 非常轻柔。 |
| piano (p) |
Soft. 弱。 |
| mezzo piano (mp) |
Moderately soft. 中弱。 |
| mezzo forte (mf) |
Moderately loud. 中强。 |
| forte (f) |
Loud. 强。 |
| fortissimo (ff) |
Very loud. 非常响亮。 |
| crescendo (cresc.) |
Gradually getting louder. 渐强。 |
| diminuendo (dim.) |
Gradually getting softer. 渐弱。 |
| sforzando (sfz) |
A sudden, strong accent on a single note. 突强，单个音上的突然重音。 |
| subito piano (sub. p) |
Suddenly soft. 突然弱下来。 |
| espressivo (espress.) |
Expressively, with emotion. 富有表情地，带有情感。 |
| dolce |
Sweetly, softly. 甜美地，柔和地。 |
2. Tempo and Speed | 速度术语
Tempo markings set the overall pace of a movement or section. Many come from Italian and are frequently combined with qualifying words such as ‘molto’ (very) or ‘poco’ (a little). In CIE questions you may be asked to compare tempi or identify tempo changes such as accelerando and ritardando.
速度标记确定了一个乐章或段落的整体步调。许多术语源自意大利语，并常与 ‘molto’（非常）或 ‘poco’（一点）等修饰词搭配。在 CIE 题目中，你可能会被要求比较速度或识别速度变化，如 accelerando 和 ritardando。
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| largo |
Very slow and broad. 非常缓慢而宽广。 |
| adagio |
Slow and stately. 缓慢而庄严。 |
| andante |
At a walking pace. 行板，步行速度。 |
| moderato |
Moderate speed. 中速。 |
| allegro |
Fast, lively. 快板，活泼地。 |
| presto |
Very fast. 急板，非常快。 |
| accelerando (accel.) |
Gradually getting faster. 渐快。 |
| ritardando (rit.) |
Gradually getting slower. 渐慢。 |
| rallentando (rall.) |
Slowing down, often more gradually than ritardando. 逐渐放慢，通常比 ritardando 更渐进。 |
| a tempo |
Return to the original tempo after a change. 回到变化前的原速。 |
| rubato |
Flexible tempo for expressive effect, literally ‘stolen time’. 弹性速度，为表情效果而自由处理，字面意为“被偷走的时间”。 |
3. Articulation | 演奏法术语
Articulation describes how individual notes are attacked, sustained and released. These markings shape phrasing and significantly affect character. In aural analysis you need to hear the difference between legato and staccato, and recognise accents or tenuto markings in a score.
演奏法描述单个音符如何起奏、保持和释放。这些标记塑造了乐句并显著影响音乐性格。在听力分析中你需要区分连奏与断奏，并在乐谱中辨认重音或保持音标记。
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| legato |
Smoothly, notes connected without gaps. 连奏，音符之间平滑连接无间隙。 |
| staccato (stacc.) |
Detached, short and separated. 断奏，短促分离。 |
| tenuto (ten.) |
Held for full value, often slightly stressed. 保持，奏满时值并常略带强调。 |
| accent (>) |
A strong attack on the note. 重音，音符上的强力起奏。 |
| marcato |
Marked, each note played with particular emphasis. 强调地，每个音都特别突出。 |
| portato |
Semi-detached, between legato and staccato; notes are slightly separated but not as short as staccato. 半连音，介于连奏与断奏之间；音符稍加分离但不像断奏那样短促。 |
| pizzicato (pizz.) |
Plucking the string with the finger on a bowed instrument. 拨弦，在弓弦乐器上用手指拨动琴弦。 |
| arco |
Play with the bow (after a pizzicato passage). 用弓演奏（在拨弦段落之后）。 |
| slur |
A curved line indicating notes should be played legato or in one breath. 连音线，表示音符应连奏或在同一口气内演奏。 |
4. Texture | 织体术语
Texture refers to how many layers of sound are heard at once and how these layers relate. Common types include monophony, homophony and polyphony, but you should also recognise thinner or thicker combinations, imitation, antiphony and octave doublings. Describing texture changes is a frequent requirement in CIE listening papers.
织体指同时听到多少层音响以及这些层次之间的关系。常见的类型包括单声部、主调与复调，但你还应能识别更稀疏或更密集的组合、模仿、交替合唱以及八度重叠等。描述织体的变化是 CIE 听力卷中常见的要求。
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| monophonic |
A single melodic line with no accompaniment. 单声部，无伴奏的单一旋律线条。 |
| homophonic |
Melody with chordal accompaniment; all parts move together rhythmically. 主调织体，旋律与和弦伴奏；所有声部节奏基本一致。 |
| polyphonic/contrapuntal |
Two or more independent melodic lines woven together. 复调织体，两条或以上独立旋律线条交织在一起。 |
| heterophonic |
Simultaneous variations of a single melody, often in world music. 支声织体，同一条旋律同时出现不同变体，常见于世界音乐。 |
| imitation |
A musical idea presented by one part and then repeated by another. 模仿，一个声部呈现乐思后由另一个声部重复。 |
| canon |
A strict form of imitation where the second part overlaps the first exactly. 卡农，严格的模仿，第二声部精确重叠第一声部。 |
| fugue |
A contrapuntal composition built on a subject that is imitated in different voices. 赋格，以一个主题为基础并在不同声部中进行模仿的复调作品。 |
| antiphonal |
Dialogue between two groups of performers, often spatially separated. 交替式，两组表演者之间的对话，常在空间上分开。 |
| unison |
All performers playing or singing the same note at the same pitch. 齐奏/齐唱，所有演奏者同时奏出相同音高。 |
| octave doubling |
The same melody played in two octaves simultaneously. 八度重叠，同一旋律同时在两个八度上演奏。 |
5. Harmony and Tonality | 和声与调性术语
Harmony involves the vertical organisation of pitches into chords and chord progressions, while tonality refers to the organisation around a central note or key. You are expected to identify perfect and plagal cadences, recognise modulations and describe non-chord notes in both written and listening examinations.
和声涉及将音高纵向组织为和弦与和弦进行，而调性则指围绕一个中心音或主调的组织方式。你需要能够在书面与听力考试中识别正格终止与变格终止、辨认转调并描述和弦外音。
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| tonic |
The first degree of a scale; the home key centre. 主音，音阶第一级；调性中心。 |
| dominant |
The fifth degree, creating a strong pull back to the tonic. 属音，第五级，产生强烈回到主音的倾向。 |
| subdominant |
The fourth degree, often used before the dominant. 下属音，第四级，常用在属音之前。 |
| perfect cadence |
V-I (dominant to tonic), sounding complete and final. 正格终止，属和弦到主和弦，听感完满结束。 |
| imperfect cadence |
Ending on the dominant, often I-V or IV-V, sounding unfinished. 不完美终止，终止在属和弦，常有未完成感。 |
| plagal cadence |
IV-I (subdominant to tonic), often called ‘Amen’ cadence. 变格终止，下属和弦到主和弦，常称“阿门终止”。 |
| interrupted cadence |
V-vi, a deceptive resolution away from the expected tonic. 阻碍终止，属和弦到六级和弦，意外地避开主和弦。 |
| modulation |
A change of key within a piece. 转调，作品内部调性的改变。 |
| diatonic |
Using notes belonging to the prevailing key only. 自然音阶的，仅使用当前调性内的音。 |
| chromatic |
Introducing notes outside the prevailing key for colour. 半音阶的，引入当前调性以外的音以增添色彩。 |
6. Melody and Pitch | 旋律与音高术语
Melody is the linear succession of pitches that forms a recognisable musical statement. In your answers you should be able to describe contour, range, interval patterns and specific melodic devices such as sequence, ostinato or ornamentation. Precise pitch vocabulary helps when discussing motifs and themes.
旋律是构成可识别乐句的一系列音高的线性连接。在你的答案中，你应该能够描述旋律轮廓、音域、音程模式以及特定的旋律手法，如模进、固定音型或装饰音。讨论动机与主题时，精准的音高词汇非常重要。
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| conjunct |
Stepwise melodic movement. 级进，旋律以音阶二度进行。 |
| disjunct |
Melodic movement by leaps, often more than a tone. 跳进，旋律以较大的音程跳跃，常大于全音。 |
| tessitura |
The general range of a vocal or instrumental part. 常用音域，声乐或器乐声部的一般范围。 |
| sequence |
A melodic pattern repeated at a higher or lower pitch. 模进，旋律型在更高或更低的音高上重复。 |
| ostinato |
A persistently repeated melodic or rhythmic figure. 固定音型，持续重复的旋律或节奏型。 |
| trill |
Rapid alternation between two adjacent notes. 颤音，两个相邻音快速交替。 |
| mordent |
A rapid single alternation of a note with the note above or below. 波音，一个音与上方或下方邻音快速交替一次。 |
| appoggiatura |
A non-chord note that leans on the main note, taking part of its value. 倚音，一个和弦外音倚靠到主音上并占有其时值的一部分。 |
| passing note |
A non-chord note connecting two chord tones by step. 经过音，以级进方式连接两个和弦音的和弦外音。 |
| tremolo |
Rapid repetition of a single note or rapid alternation between two notes. 震音，一个音快速重复或两个音快速交替。 |
7. Rhythm and Metre | 节奏与节拍术语
Rhythm organises sounds in time, while metre provides the regular pulse grouping. CIE questions frequently focus on time signatures, syncopation, cross-rhythms and dance metres. Being able to count and describe rhythmic features accurately is a core skill.
节奏在时间中组织音响，而节拍则提供规律的拍子分组。CIE 题目常关注拍号、切分、交错节奏以及舞曲节拍。能够准确数拍并描述节奏特征是核心技能。
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| simple metre |
Beat divides naturally into two equal parts, e.g. 2/4, 3/4, 4/4. 单拍子，拍子自然分成两个相等的部分，如 2/4、3/4、4/4。 |
| compound metre |
Beat divides into three equal parts, e.g. 6/8, 9/8, 12/8. 复拍子，拍子分成三个相等的部分，如 6/8、9/8、12/8。 |
| syncopation |
Accents placed on normally weak beats or between beats. 切分，重音落在通常的弱拍或拍子之间。 |
| hemiola |
A shift from compound to simple feel, e.g. two measures of 3/4 felt as three groups of two. 希米奥拉，复拍向单拍感觉的转换，如两小节 3/4 听成三个两组。 |
| cross-rhythm |
Contrasting rhythmic patterns played simultaneously. 交错节奏，同时进行的对比节奏型。 |
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