S

Sanctus: "Holy." In the Mass, the fourth part of the ordinary.

Scale: A series of notes which define a diatonic tonality, often consisting of eight degrees, and containing a tonic and sometimes also a leading tone.

Scale Chant: "Thumb (R.H.), four-two, threes, thumb (R.H.), thumb (L.H.), threes, two-four, five (R.H.), two-four, threes, thumb (L.H.), thumb (R.H.), threes, four-two, five (L.H.)." A method for beginning piano students to play scales hands together invented by Robert W Brown. Will only work for these scales: C, D, E, G, A, C min., D min., E min., G min., and A min.

Schubert, Franz: (Seraph, Peter) (b Vienna 1797, d Vienna 1828) Austrian Composer. Imaginative composer with large catalogue of a works composed for opera, chamber music, symphonies, voice, piano, two pianos, song cycles and a huge number of songs for which he is well known for.

Serialize: A form of music writing based on Twelve-Tone technique, in which pitch classes, rhythms, and often dynamics are determined systematically.

Second: The interval of two adjacent diatonic degrees.

Semitone: Also known less formally as a half-step. The smallest interval in European music.

Sequence: 1. Repetition of the same basic melodic theme at a different pitch. 2. A type of Gregorian chant with non-biblical texts, lines grouped in rhymed pairs, and one note per syllable. 3) A series of variations on a motif. 4) A prerecorded series of digital commands sent to sound modules or other electronic MIDI devices.

Serenade: A love song, or piece traditionally performed below a loved one's window in the evening.

Seventh: The interval of seven diatonic degrees.

Sharps: An accidental that raises a given pitch by one half-step. () See also key signature.

Sixth: The interval of six diatonic degrees.

Slur: A curved line that connects a group of notes. Performance indication is that the said grouping of notes should be played legato. Notes that are slured together also indicate a musical phrase which is metaphorical to a musical sentence or also a complete thought.

Smorzando: An Italian dynamic indication: "fading away"

Sonata: (It. sounded from suonare, to sound Fr, Ger. sonate) Originated in the 16th century. the earliest sonatas were for solo keyboard. The form for a sonata can be described as a compond binary form. The form later developed into larger works for ensemble. A symphony is a sonata arranged for an orchestra. Usually the sonata is in 3 or 4 movements depending upon composer and period.

Song Forms: The arrangement of sections in a song to contrast similar and different sections. Often, letters are used to represent different parts of a given selection: ABA, AABA, ABACA, etc.

Soprano: The female vocal range, above alto.

Staccato:(It.) Detached. One of many articulations. Method of playing a note so that the sustain is shortened this detached from following note. Notated by adding a dot above or below any given note. Opposite of legato. Also see Dotted Note and Articulation.

Staff: The five horizontal lines upon which music is written. Usually including a clef, and having a time signature and key signature.

Style: Element of music whereas cultural identity is communicated through specific embellishments other unique traits. Style may be considered a fundamental element of music.

Subject: A theme or motif that is the basis for a musical form, such as a fugue or sonata.

Super Locrian: Seventh mode of the ascending melodic minor scale. The super-locrian scale tones are used in jazz to improvise and compose over fully-altered dominant seventh chords.

Symphony: A large piece for orchestra, usually in three or four movements. The form of a symphony is based upon sonata form.