Glossary of Genre Terms

ARIA: Movement for solo voice and orchestra or ensemble, separate composition or excerpted from a dramatic work (opera, oratorio, theater music). Arias excerpted from the recording of a complete dramatic work are indexed under the heading for that work
CANTATA (choral): Multi-movement work for soloists, chorus and orchestra or ensemble, usually with a sacred text
CANTATA (solo a 1): Multi-movement work for soloist and orchestra or ensemble, with a sacred or secular text
CANTATA (solo a 2): Multi-movement work for 2 soloists and orchestra or ensemble, with a sacred or secular text
CANTATA (solo a 3+): Multi-movement work for 3 or more soloists and orchestra or ensemble, with a sacred or secular text
CHORUS (sacred): Single-movement work for soloists, chorus, and orchestra or ensemble, with a sacred text
CHRISTMAS CAROL: Includes solo and choral settings
DUET (aria a 2): Movement for 2 solo voices and orchestra or ensemble, usually excerpted from a dramatic work (opera, oratorio, theater music). Duets excerpted from the recording of a complete dramatic work are indexed under the heading for that work
DUET (sacred): Composition for 2 solo voices and any accompaniment, with a sacred text
DUET (with lute): Composition for 2 solo voices and lute accompaniment, with a secular text
MADRIGAL: Part-song for 3 or more voices, generally with a secular text, and specifically identified as a madrigal
MAGNIFICAT: Setting of the Latin Magnificat text, generally for solo voices, chorus, and orchestra or ensemble
MASS: Setting of the Latin Mass text, generally for solo voices, chorus, and orchestra or ensemble. Individual mass movements (e.g., Gloria) are also indexed under this heading
MONODY: Early 17th-century secular work for solo voice and continuo, in declamatory style
MOTET (part-song): Composition, for 3 or more solo voices, with a sacred Latin text
MOTET (solo): Composition for solo voice and orchestra or ensemble, with a sacred Latin text
OPERA: Multi-movement work for soloists, chorus and orchestra or ensemble, with a secular, dramatic text
ORATORIO: Multi-movement work for soloists, chorus and orchestra or ensemble, with a sacred, dramatic text
PART-SONG: Composition for 3 or more solo voices without obbligato accompaniment, generally with a secular text
SONG (with ensemble): Composition for solo voice and ensemble accompaniment, generally with a secular text
SONG (with keyboard): Composition for solo voice and keyboard accompaniment (including continuo), generally with a secular text
SONG (with lute): Composition for solo voice and lute accompaniment, generally with a secular text
SONG (unaccompanied): Composition for solo voice
THEATER MUSIC: Multi-movement work for soloists, possibly chorus, and orchestra or ensemble, intended for performance with a spoken drama
TRIO: Composition for 3 solo voices and obbligato accompaniment