pantomime Theatrical genre in which an actor silently plays all the parts in a show while accompanied by singing; originated in ancient Rome.
part song Secular vocal composition, unaccompanied, in three, four, or more parts.
partita See suite.
pas de deux A dance for two that is an established feature of classical ballet.
passacaglia Baroque form (similar to the chaconne) in moderately slow triple meter, based on a short, repeated base-line melody that serves as the basis for continuous variation in the other voices.
passepied French Baroque court dance type; a faster version of the minuet.
passion Musical setting of the Crucifixion story as told by one of the four Evangelists in the Gospels.
pastorale Pastoral, country-like.
pavane Stately Renaissance court dance in duple meter.
pedal point Sustained tone over which the harmonies change.
penny whistle See tin whistle.
pentatonic scale Five-note pattern used in some African, Far Eastern, and Native American musics; can also be found in Western music as an example of exoticism.
percussion instrument Instrument made of metal, wood, stretched skin, or other material that is made to sound by striking, shaking, scraping, or plucking. The many, varied percussion instruments fall into two basic categories: pitched (such as timpani and xylophone) and unpitched (snare drum, bass drum, cymbals, triangle, tambourine).
performance art Multimedia art form involving visual as well as dramatic and musical elements.
perpetuum mobile Type of piece characterized by continuous repetitions of a rhythmic pattern at a quick tempo; perpetual motion.
phasing A technique in which a musical pattern is repeated and manipulated so that it separates and overlaps itself, and then rejoins the original pattern; getting "out of phase" and back "in sync."
phrase Musical unit; often a component of a melody.
This melody divides into four distinct phrases; the first two are similar, the third is contrasting, and the last returns to the opening idea. The melody's four phrases make up a complete musical thought.
Example: Beethoven, Symphony No. 9, fourth movement, "Ode to Joy"
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pianissimo The Italian term for "very soft," indicated in the musical score by the marking "pp."
This work begins very softly (pianissimo) with a flute melody played against a rhythmic accompaniment.
Example: Ravel, Boléro (Opening)
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piano The Italian term for "soft," indicated in the musical score by the marking "p."
This example, featuring clarinet playing the melody, is soft (piano).
Example: Ravel, Boléro
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piano Keyboard instrument whose strings are struck with hammers controlled by a keyboard mechanism; pedals control dampers in the strings that stop the sound when the finger releases the key. 
This example features the wide dynamic range and delicate nuances of the piano.
Example: Beethoven, Piano Sonata in C minor, Op. 13, (Pathétique), first movement
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pianoforte Original name for the piano.
piano quartet Standard chamber ensemble of piano with violin, viola, and cello.
piano quintet Standard chamber ensemble of piano with two violins, viola, and cello.
piano trio Standard chamber ensemble of piano with violin and cello.
piccolo The highest member of the orchestra, the piccolo is a little flute whose shrill timbre stands out against the full ensemble.
Example: Sousa, The Stars and Stripes Forever, Trio
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pipa A Chinese lute with four silk strings; played as solo and ensemble instrument.
pitch Highness or lowness of a tone, depending on the frequency (rate of vibration).
In this famous example, we hear three repeated pitches or tones, then a leap to a lower pitch, followed by the same sequence starting on another, lower tone.
Example: Beethoven, Symphony No. 5 in C minor, first movement
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pizzicato Performance direction to pluck a string of a bowed instrument with the finger.
In this example, both the melody line and the accompaniment are played pizzicato.
Example: Delibes, Sylvia Suite, "Pizzicato"
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plainchant See Gregorian chant.
plainsong See Gregorian chant.
poco A little.
polka Lively Bohemian dance; also a short, lyric piano piece.
polonaise Stately Polish processional dance in triple meter.
polychoral Performance style developed in the late sixteenth century involving the use of two or more choirs that alternate with each other or sing together.
polyharmony Two or more streams of harmony played against each other, common in twentieth-century music.
polyphonic Two or more melodic lines combined into a multivoiced texture, as distinct from monophonic.
This example features numerous lines combined into a complex musical fabric in which melodic interest is distributed among all the parts.
Example: Mozart, Requiem, "Kyrie eleison"
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polyrhythm The simultaneous use of several rhythmic patterns or meters, common in twentieth-century music and in certain African musics.
In this example, the piano and the orchestra play different rhythmic patterns: the piano has a triple pattern while the orchestra's is duple.
Example: Saint-Saëns, Carnival of the Animals, "Tortoises"
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polytextual Two or more texts set simultaneously in a composition.
polytonality The simultaneous use of two or more keys, common in twentieth-century music.
portative organ Medieval organ small enough to be carried or set on a table, usually with only one set of pipes.
positive organ Small single-manual organ, popular in the Renaissance and Baroque eras.
prelude Instrumental work intended to precede a larger work.
prepared piano Piano whose sound is altered by the insertion of various materials (metal, rubber, leather, and paper) between the strings; invented by John Cage.
This piano work moves at a very fast, almost frenetic, pace.
Example: Chopin, Prelude in B-flat minor, Op. 28, No. 16
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program music Instrumental music endowed with literary or pictorial associations, especially popular in the nineteenth century.
program symphony Multimovement programmatic orchestral work, typically from the nineteenth century.
progressive rock See art rock.
Proper Sections of the Roman Catholic Mass that vary from day to day throughout the church year according to the particular liturgical occasion, as distinct from the Ordinary, in which they remain the same.
Psalms Book from the Old Testament of the Bible; the 150 psalm texts, used in Jewish and Christian worship, are often set to music.
psaltery Medieval plucked-string instrument similar to the modern zither, consisting of a sound box over which strings were stretched.
punk rock Subgenre of rock popular since the mid-1970s, characterized by loud volume levels, driving rhythms, and simple forms typical of earlier rock and roll; often contains shocking lyrics and offensive behavior.
pure music See absolute music.