What Is The Meaning Of These Names?

[fuel925]

I am just trying to find out the meaning of these words... some of them have explanations of what I *think* they mean

Mazurka - Polish dance?
Prelude - What it says on the tin, a prelude to a larger composition, although not true of the Chopin preludes
Waltz - A piece in 3/4 time?
Fantaisie - A piece written to sound as if it were improvised
Impromptu - Maybe I got this and Fantaisie mixed up?
Etude - ?
Ballade - ?
Nocturne - ?
Polonaise - ?

Anyone who can fill in the gaps and correct me where i've made an error, please do so

Thanks!

[lagin]

Nocturne--term devised in 1812 by someone (I forget), for his "night pieces."  Basically a introspective mood piece, that's not so much on the virtuosic side, though I'm sure there's exceptions.  BTW, if this is for an exam or something, let me know and I can look up the name of the guy for you.

Polonaise-a stately polish dance in triple meter (I think that is 3/4, anyone?)

Etude-study, a piece designed to improve technique

Ballade-a Romantic genre, especially a lyric piano piece

Impromptu-something composed sort of on the spot, spur of the moment, kind of thing

Fantasie-NO IDEA

Waltz, a moderate dance/piece in 3/4 time, yes

Mazurka-is related to Polish dance, yes

Prelude-an instrumental work designed to precede a larger one
In the Romantic era, they took an instrumental genre previously used as a opening piece, I forget what it was, and used the same term, but the "new" Romantic piece was meant to stand alone.  This might apply to the Chopin preludes.  Prelude wasn't the genre, but it might follow the same idea, if you get my drift.

Anyone feel free to add or correct!  I'm just in the process of studying for this history exam, and thus, I'm not 100% certain of everything yet, but I remember enough to answer these.

[mikeyg]

Nocturne--term devised in 1812 by someone (I forget), for his "night pieces."  Basically a introspective mood piece, that's not so much on the virtuosic side, though I'm sure there's exceptions.  BTW, if this is for an exam or something, let me know and I can look up the name of the guy for you.

.

I think you are talking about John Field.

[lagin]

Oh yah, of course!  Hopefully this will stick in my head forever, or at least until after the exam.  It was 1812, wasn't it?

[ShiroKuro]

How about Ecossaisen? I always thought that name was unique to the Beethoven piece, but someone told me it was another genre. Does anyone know?

[kaff]

How about Ecossaisen? I always thought that name was unique to the Beethoven piece, but someone told me it was another genre. Does anyone know?

Ecossais is the French word for Scottish.  An Ecossaise therefore is a piece with a Scottish flavour to it - usually referring to the rhythms being reminiscent of Scottish country dance music or sometimes with an effect supposed to represent the drones of the bagpipes.

Kathryn

[Daevren]

Mazurka
(mah-ZOR-kah)

[Ger.]

A lively Polish dance in 3/4 or 3/8 time with the accent usually on the second or third beat of the measure. The mazurka was popular in the 18th and 19th centuries.


Prelude
(PRAY-lood)

   1. An instrumental composition intended to introduce a larger composition or a set of compositions.
   2. A short compositions for piano.
   3. A compositions which establishes the key for a composition that immediately follows.

Waltz

An extremely popular ballroom dance of the 19th century in triple meter. The waltz originated in the 18th century, and by the early 19th century, it was objected to because of the risk to health it induced by whirling around the room so quickly, and also on a moral basis, because the gentleman's hand was placed around the woman's waist. Despite these objections, the waltz gained in popularity, and many major composers produced compositions for it including Strauss, Hummel, Beethoven, Schubert, and others. Today the waltz is performed in a slow triple meter or in a fast triple meter (with typically one beat per measure) known as the Viennese waltz.


Fantasia
(fan-tah-ZEE-ah)

[It.]

An instrumental composition in which a composer yields to his imagination in regard to form and organization of the composition. A fantasia follows no particular pattern or form, and is generally of fairly large dimensions. In the Baroque era it often served as an introductory composition to a fugue.


Impromptu
(a (h) n-PROM-too)

[Fr.]

A single-movement, piano composition of the Romantic era, usually short, that has a spontaneous character. The term implies a freedom of style and a casual nature.


Etude
(AY-tood)

[Fr.]

A study or an exercise designed to train a musician technically as well as musically.


Ballade
(Bah-LAH-tah)

[Fr.]

A French poetic style and chanson type of the Middle Ages and Renaissance usually having a text dealing with courtly love. The term is also applied to a Romantic genre, especially a lyric piano composition.


Nocturne

   1. A composition, usually a serenade, to be played at night in the open air.
   2. The name "nocturne" has been used by composers for piano and orchestral pieces that suggest some aspect of the night and are usually solemn and contemplative.


Polonaise
(POE-leh-naiz)

[Fr.]

A Polish dance in triple meter. The polonaise originated as a court dance.

[Chrysalis]

can somebody tell me what an arabeske // arabesque is...
i have no single clue

thanks in advance

and thanks for this list

[xvimbi]

can somebody tell me what an arabeske // arabesque is...
i have no single clue

thanks in advance

and thanks for this list

It's generally a piece with intricate, intertwined patterns, like those found on Moorish walls.

Typing into a Google search window "define: arabesque" reveals the following (among lots of others):

A fanciful piano piece. Ornate passage varying or accompanying a theme

A short piece of music featuring various melodic, contrapuntal or harmonic decorations.

A short decorative piano piece.

[Chrysalis]

i asked it because all arabesques seems to differ a lot from each other

schumann arabesque
Debussy arabesque no.1 (which is my fav)
heck even borgmoller arabesque

so tnx for the explanation