Round
A round is a song with one melody line that is sung or played in parts, with each part beginning at a different time, creating harmony. The melody is sung […]
Rondo
Rondo is an Italian word that means round. A rondo is an instrumental form with a refrain that keeps coming back. Unlike the verses of a song, though, the music […]
Romanticism
Romantic music came into its own at the beginning of the 19th century. Music from this era sounds almost boundless and free from any limitations of form. Much of this […]
Rhythm
The pattern of musical movement through time formed by a series of notes differing in duration and stress.
rhapsody
A free-form piece that takes different tunes and strings them together.
Rest
Rests have the same time value as notes. When a rest is written in a piece of music, it means that the player pauses for that amount of time before […]
Renaissance
French for “rebirth.” The period of music history from around 1400 to the early 1600’s that coincided with a revival of interest in art, architecture, literature, and learning throughout Europe.
Refrain
Like a chorus, but for instrumental music.
Reed
A thin piece of cane or metal that vibrates when air is blown over it. Used in woodwind instruments to make sound.
Recorder
A woodwind instrument. It is held pointed down and blown into through a mouthpiece. By covering and uncovering holes on the recorder, the player can make different notes.
