Glossary

G
A note of the scale
G.P.
Abbreviation of 'General Pause'
Galliard
A lively dance in triple time, often preceded in dance suites by the slower Pavan
Galop
A fast ballroom dance in 2/4 time, popular in the 19th century
Gavotte
A fairly fast dance in 4/4 time
Gehalten
German for 'sustained'
General Pause
A complete silence where the entire orchestra does not play for at least a bar. Abbreviated 'G.P.'
Gigue (Giga)
Italian for 'jig', a lively dance in 6/8 or 12/8 time and in Binary Form. Often the last movement in the 18th century Dance Suite
Giocoso
Italian for 'playful'
Giusto
An Italian word that can mean either 'in strict time' or 'at a reasonable speed', depending on context
Glee
A short, simple English part-song for male voices
Glissando
A slide up or down the scale, abbreviated 'gliss.', or indicated by a wavy or straight line between the two extreme notes
Grace Note
See 'Ornament'
Grand Opera
A rather vague term referring to very large-scale, serious Operas as opposed to smaller ones or less serious Operas, which sometimes contained the spoken word
Grandioso
An Italian word meaning something like 'grandly' or 'in an imposing manner'
Grave
Italian for 'solemn'
Gregorian Chant
A type of Plainsong used by the Roman Catholic Church, associated with Pope Gregory the First
Ground Bass
A bass line which is repeated over and over throughout a piece, upon which the rest of the music is built up. A famous example is Pachelbel's Canon. The Italian term is 'Basso Ostinato'