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Samba

A fast, syncopated Brazilian dance in 2/4 time which includes singing, with a lead singer and chorus

Sarabande

A slow, stately dance in 3/4 or 3/2 time, usually in Binary Form (see 'Binary Form')

Scale

An ascending or descending sequence of notes within a particular key, mode or row

Scherzando

Italian for 'light-hearted' or 'playfully'

Scherzo

Italian for 'Joke', a lively movement in 3/4 time, forming the third movement of the standard late-Classical and Romantic Symphony

Schnell

German for 'fast'

Score

All the different parts (vocal, instrumental etc.) of a piece of music combined in an orderly way, with each part one above another. A 'piano score' is one where all the parts have been combined into a piano part which can be substituted for the orchestra, perhaps for rehearsal purposes

Scotch Snap

A special rhythmic feature where a short note on the beat is followed immediately by a long one which lastd for the rest of the beat. It is found in some Scottish folk music, but also in folk music from other countries

Secco

See 'Recitative'

Segue

Italian for 'it follows', and indicating that the next section or movement in a piece of music follows immediately after the end of the previous one, without a break

Semitone

The smallest interval in common use in Western music, equal to half a tone, and the interval by which a note is raised or lowered in pitch if it is sharpened or flattened

Sempre

Italian for 'always', as in 'sempre legato' - 'always smoothly'

Septet

A piece of music written for seven performers, or the group of performers itself

Septuplet

A group of seven notes to be played in the time normally occupied by four or six

Sequence

When a melody or phrase is repeated a step higher or lower two or more times in a row

Serenade

A loose title used to describe some pieces of music which are in the style of a serenade, a love song sung to woo a lady

Serial Music

Music in which a pre-determined series of the twelve notes of the chromatic scale (the 'Tone Row') is used to construct a piece of music, by varying the way in which the Tone Row is used. Invented largely by Schoenberg, and also known as Twelve-Tone Music

Sextet

A piece of music written for six performers, or the group of performers itself

Shake

American term for 'Trill'

Shanty

A sailors' rhythmical work song with solo verses (often improvised)

Sharp

A note which has been raised in pitch by the interval of a semitone. Also used of the symbol which indicates this

Sight-reading

Performing music which has not been previously studied or played before. An essential skill for musicians, particularly professional musicians

Simile

Italian for 'similar', indicating that a phrase or motif should be played in the same manner as the previous one(s)

Simple Time

A time signature in which every beat is divisible by two and is a crotchet (or quarter note), such as 2/4, 3/4, 4/4 and so on

Sinfonia

Originally an instrumental piece within another work (such as an Opera or Cantata), but now used as a name by some smaller orchestras

Sinfonia Concertante

Another term for a Concerto with more than one solo part, used by Mozart and Haydn

Sinfonietta

A short, light, Symphony, but, like 'Sinfonia', more commonly used as a name for a smaller orchestra

Slur

A curved line joining two or more notes, indicating that they should be played smoothly together (as a phrase, or in one breath or with one stroke of the bow, for instance)

Solo

Italian for 'alone', indicating that a part should be played or sung by only one performer. The term 'Soli' is sometimes used in orchestral music to warn players of one type of instrument that their section of the orchestra is about to play an exposed passage

Sonata

Originally a composition for solo instrument and accompaniment, this was later standardised as a three- or four-movement work for solo instrument with or without accompaniment. When written for three performers (such as two violins and a cello), the work is called a Trio Sonata

Sonata da Camera

Italian for 'Chamber Sonata'. (See 'Chamber Sonata')

Sonata Form

Also sometimes referred to as 'First Movement Sonata Form', this was the most common musical structure used during the Classical Period, by such composers as Mozart and Haydn. It consists of three sections, the Exposition, in which the main themes are set out, the contrasting Development, in which the themes are altered and developed, and the Recapitulation, which closely imitates the Exposition. Sometimes a slow introduction and/or a faster Coda were added

Sonata Rondo

A combination of Sonata and Rondo forms, in which the Recapitulation is basically a repeat of the first two sections, thus: A, B, A, C, A, B

Sonatina

A 'little Sonata', generally easier, shorter and lighter in mood than a Sonata

Song Cycle

See 'Cycle'

Soprano

The highest range of female voice

Sordino

Italian for 'mute'. 'Con Sordini' indicates that a passage is to be played with mutes, and 'Senza Sordini' indicates that mutes are not to be used

Sostenuto

Italian for 'sustained'

Spiritual

A type of religious American Negro folksong with a 'call and response' pattern, a lead singer 'calling' and the chorus 'responding'

Staccatto

Italian for 'separated' or 'detached', indicated by a dot above or below a note. Opposite of 'Legato'

Stave/Staff

The set of five horizontal lines upon which music is written

String Orchestra

An orchestra made up solely of string instruments. Normally consists of first and second violins, violas, cellos and double basses

String Quartet

The most common type of Quartet, consisting of two violins, viola and cello

Stringendo

Italian for 'tightening', indicating an increase in speed

Strophic

A song which uses the same music for each sucessive verse

Study

See 'Etude'

Subito

Italian for 'suddenly' (e.g. 'Subito Forte' - 'suddenly loud')

Subject

A theme or particular group of notes which form the basis of a piece of music by means of repetition and/or development

Suite

Commonly an instrumental work in several movements consisting of a series of dances. Over the centuries, different combinations of dances went in and out of fashion

Sul Ponticello

An instruction for a string player to play with the bow near the bridge of the instrument, producing a harsh sound

Sul Tasto

An instruction for a string player to play with the bow over the fingerboard of the instrument, producing a soft sound

Suspension

A harmonic device in which a note is held while the chord changes, producing a discord. The discord is resolved when the held note rises or falls to form a consonant part of the new chord. Often used in sequences

Symphonic Poem

See 'Programme Music'

Symphony

A relatively large-scale work for orchestra, generally in four movements consisting of a fast first movement (often in Sonata Form), a slow second movement, a third movement either in Minuet and Trio form (see 'Minuet') or in the shape of a Scherzo, and a fast fourth movement, although over time, this structure has been used more and more loosely by composers

Syncopation

The emphasising of beats other than the main beats in a bar, common in Jazz and 20th century music

Szfordando/Sforzato

Italian term directing the musician to play the note or chord forcibly, abbreviated 'sf'