Terms marked with an asterisk (*) in the written works at Purity are defined below. All terms are listed in alphabetical order. The content of this glossary corresponds to the terms used within the written works published on Purity and is updated as new works are added.
-
articulation
The manner in which individual notes are played or sung, indicating how they are attacked, sustained, and released; examples include staccato (short and detached), legato (smooth and connected), and accent (emphatic attack).
-
ascending line
A melodic passage in which successive notes move progressively higher in pitch, creating an upward stepwise or leaping motion through a scale or interval sequence.
-
B minor
A minor key and its corresponding scale built on the pitch B, characterized by a key signature of two sharps (F♯ and C♯); often associated in Western tonal music with introspective or melancholic expression.
-
C Lydian scale
The Lydian mode starting on the pitch C; it is identical to the C major scale except that its fourth degree is raised by a half step (F becomes F♯), giving it a bright, ethereal, or dreamlike quality.
-
C Major triad
A three-note chord built on C, consisting of C (root), E (major third), and G (perfect fifth); it is the most foundational chord in Western tonal music and serves as the tonic triad in the key of C major.
-
composition
A piece of music that has been conceived, created, and structured by a composer; the term encompasses both the process of creating music and the resulting work, including its melody, harmony, rhythm, and form.
-
consecutive
In music, describing notes, beats, intervals, or harmonies that occur in immediate, uninterrupted succession, one following directly after the next without intervening elements.
-
countermelody
A secondary melodic line performed simultaneously with the primary melody, designed to complement and contrast with it rhythmically and harmonically, adding textural richness without overshadowing the main theme.
-
crescendo
A gradual increase in loudness or dynamic level over the course of a musical passage; indicated in notation by a diverging hairpin symbol (<) or the abbreviation cresc.
-
descending line
A melodic passage in which successive notes move progressively lower in pitch, creating a downward stepwise or leaping motion through a scale or interval sequence.
-
distorted-synth
A synthesizer sound that has been processed through distortion effects—such as clipping, overdrive, or saturation—which alter its timbre by adding harmonic overtones and creating a harsh, gritty, or warped sonic quality.
-
dotted half-note
A note with a duration equal to three beats in 4/4 time; formed by adding a dot to a half note (two beats), which augments the note’s value by half, resulting in a total of three beats.
-
dynamic
The variation in loudness and softness of a musical sound or passage; dynamics are indicated in notation by markings ranging from pianissimo (very soft, pp) to fortissimo (very loud, ff) and are a fundamental expressive element in music.
-
fifth note
The fifth degree of a diatonic scale, also called the dominant; in the key of C major this is the note G. The dominant holds particular harmonic importance as it creates tension that resolves back to the tonic.
-
first note
The first degree of a diatonic scale, also called the tonic; the pitch on which a key is built and toward which all other scale degrees gravitate. In the key of C major, the first note (tonic) is C.
-
forte dynamic
A dynamic marking indicating a loud volume in musical performance, abbreviated as f; derived from the Italian word for “strong” or “loud.”
-
fortissimo
A dynamic marking indicating a very loud volume in musical performance, abbreviated as ff; louder than forte (f) and representing one of the highest dynamic levels in standard notation.
-
fourth note
The fourth degree of a diatonic scale, also called the subdominant; in the key of C major this is the note F. In the Lydian mode, the fourth degree is characteristically raised by a half step.
-
hexatonic
Relating to or designating a scale, melody, or musical system that employs exactly six distinct pitches within the span of an octave, as opposed to the seven pitches of a standard diatonic scale.
-
instrument
A device constructed or adapted for the purpose of producing musical sound; instruments are broadly classified into families including strings, woodwinds, brass, keyboards, and percussion, each producing sound through different physical mechanisms.
-
irregular intervals
Intervals between consecutive notes that do not conform to the regular, predictable stepwise (half-step or whole-step) pattern of a given scale, creating unexpected gaps or leaps within a melodic line.
-
iteration
The restatement or repetition of a musical motive, phrase, figure, or harmonic pattern; iterations may be exact or varied and serve as a fundamental structural and developmental device in music composition.
-
larger intervals
Intervals spanning more than a whole step (major second) between two pitches, such as thirds, fourths, fifths, sixths, sevenths, or octaves; larger intervals produce a more pronounced melodic leap.
-
leap
A melodic movement between two notes separated by an interval greater than a whole step (major second); also referred to as a “skip” for intervals of a third or fourth. Leaps are contrasted with stepwise motion.
-
legato
A style of musical performance in which notes are played smoothly and connectedly, with no perceptible interruption or silence between them; indicated in notation by a curved slur line over or under the affected notes.
-
measure
A unit of musical time containing a fixed number of beats as determined by the time signature, bounded by vertical bar lines in music notation; also called a “bar.” Measures provide the rhythmic framework that organizes music into regular, repeating units.
-
melodic baseline
A bass line that has distinctive melodic character and functions as a recognizable melody in its own right, rather than serving a purely harmonic or rhythmic supporting role; it contributes to the polyphonic texture of a piece.
-
mezzo forte
A dynamic marking indicating a moderately loud volume in musical performance, abbreviated as mf; louder than mezzo piano (mp) but softer than forte (f), representing a medium-loud level of sound.
-
orchestra
A large ensemble of instrumentalists typically organized into four sections: strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion; a full symphony orchestra generally numbers between 60 and 100 or more players and performs under the direction of a conductor.
-
piano arrangement
A transcription or adaptation of a musical work originally composed for other instruments, voices, or ensembles, rewritten and restructured for performance on the piano while preserving its essential melodic and harmonic content.
-
pianissimo
A dynamic marking indicating a very soft volume in musical performance, abbreviated as pp; softer than piano (p) and representing one of the quietest dynamic levels in standard notation.
-
production
The complete process of creating a finished audio recording, encompassing recording performances, editing takes, mixing individual tracks, and mastering the final product for distribution; the producer oversees and shapes the overall sonic character of the work.
-
repetition
The restatement of a musical idea, phrase, theme, or motive, either exactly or with variation; repetition is one of the most fundamental structural devices in music composition, creating coherence, emphasis, and expectation for the listener.
-
resonance
The reinforcement and prolongation of sound produced when an object vibrates sympathetically at frequencies matching those of a sound source; in music, resonance also describes the rich, full, lingering quality of a sustained tone that continues to vibrate after its initial production.
-
scale
An ordered sequence of pitches arranged by ascending or descending pitch and typically spanning one octave; scales form the melodic and harmonic basis of a musical key or mode, and differ by the pattern of whole steps and half steps between their notes.
-
second note
The second degree of a diatonic scale, also called the supertonic; in the key of C major this is the note D. The supertonic often functions as a predominant harmony in tonal music.
-
six-note scale
A scale consisting of exactly six distinct pitches within the span of an octave; also known as a hexatonic scale. The omission of one pitch from a seven-note diatonic scale creates characteristic interval gaps within the sequence.
-
synthesizer
An electronic musical instrument that generates audio signals by combining and shaping electronic oscillations; it can simulate the timbre of acoustic instruments or produce entirely new sounds, and is controlled through a keyboard, sequencer, or other interface.
-
tempo
The speed at which a piece of music is performed, typically measured in beats per minute (BPM); indicated by metronome markings or Italian terms such as largo (very slow), andante (walking pace), allegro (fast), and presto (very fast).
-
third note
The third degree of a diatonic scale, also called the mediant; in the key of C major this is the note E. The mediant is particularly significant because it determines whether a chord or key is major or minor.
-
treble clef
A musical clef placed on the second line of the five-line staff, indicating that the line represents the note G above middle C; it is used to notate music for higher-pitched instruments (such as violin, flute, and trumpet) and the right hand of keyboard instruments.
-
four bars
A grouping of four consecutive measures in music notation; four-bar phrases are among the most common structural units in Western music, forming the basis of many melodic phrases and harmonic progressions.
-
sixth note
The sixth degree of a diatonic scale, also called the submediant; in the key of C major this is the note A. In the C Lydian scale as used by Göransson, the sixth degree (A) is omitted, transforming the seven-note scale into a six-note (hexatonic) scale.