variation A formal principle in which some aspects of the music are altered but the original is still recognizable; it falls between repetition and contrast.

Here, a familiar melody is varied by a change of harmony (from major to minor) and by altering the rhythm, yet it is still recognizable.


	Example: Haydn, Symphony No. 94 (Surprise), second movement
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verismo Operatic "realism," a style popular in Italy in the 1890s, which tried to bring naturalism into the lyric theater.

verse In poetry, a group of lines constituting a unit. In liturgical music for the Catholic Church, a phrase from the Scriptures that alternates with the response.

Vespers One of the Divine Offices of the Roman Catholic Church, held at twilight.

vibraphone A percussion instrument with metal bars and electrically driven rotating propellers under each bar that produces a vibrato sound, much used in jazz.

vibrato Small fluctuation of pitch used as an expressive device to intensify a sound.

vielle Medieval bowed-string instrument; the ancestor of the violin.

Viennese School Title given to the three prominent composers of the classical era: Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven.

viola Bowed-string instrument of middle range; the second-highest member of the violin family.

viola da gamba Family of Renaissance bowed-string instruments that had six or more strings, was fretted like a guitar, and was held between the legs like a modern cello.

violin The violin's four strings are set in vibration (usually one at a time) by drawing a bow across them with the right hand while the fingers of the left hand stop the strings, changing its vibrate length and thus the pitch .

	Example: Haydn, String Quartet, Op. 76, No. 2, fourth movement
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violoncello Bowed-string instrument with a middle-to-low range and dark, rich sonority; lower than a viola. Also cello.

The cello is noted for its dark resonance and singing quality, as heard in this example.


	Example: Saint-Saëns, Carnival of the Animals, "The Swan"
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virelai Medieval and Renaissance fixed poetic form and chanson type with French courtly texts.

virtuoso Performer of extraordinary technical ability.

vivace Lively.

The pace of this Russian dance is very lively.


	Example: Tchaikovsky, The Nutcracker, "Trepak"
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vocable Nonlexical syllables, lacking literal meaning.

vocalise A textless vocal melody, as in an exercise or concert piece.

voices The standard voice types, from highest to lowest, are: (female) soprano, mezzo-soprano, alto; (male) tenor, baritone, and bass.

In this excerpt, the standard choral voice parts enter from lowest to highest (basses, tenors, altos, sopranos).


	Example: Handel, Messiah, "Hallelujah" Chorus
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volume Degree of loudness or softness of a sound. See also dynamics.