Totenmesse

The word requiem comes from the opening words of the Roman Catholic Mass for the Dead, which is spoken or sung in Latin (requies means “rest”). In a nonreligious context the word refers simply to an act of remembrance. Mozart, Brahms, and Dvořák have all written important requiems.

In music, the term "simile" means "in a similar way." This is an indication for the performer to play a specific section or group of bars similarly to previous passages.

consisting of many voices or sounds. Music. having two or more voices or parts, each with an independent melody, but all harmonizing; contrapuntal (opposed to homophonic). pertaining to music of this kind.

In music, the term "terraced dynamics" refers to the contrasting and sudden shift from forte (loud) to piano (soft) volume and vice versa, without gradual changes.

The word requiem comes from the opening words of the Roman Catholic Mass for the Dead, which is spoken or sung in Latin (requies means “rest”). In a nonreligious context the word refers simply to an act of remembrance.

Basically, the Requiem is a liturgy for use at funerals and memorial services that over the centuries countless composers have set to music in a variety of ways. As a Catholic Mass, protestant composers such as Bach or Mendelssohn stayed away, although there are exceptions, as you'll see below.

Metaphors and similes are very common in music which provides a high-interest tool to teach students about both concepts. Previewing the song lyrics, however, is critical. Often the reason for figurative language such as a simile is to avoid using more explicit language.

“A simile is an expression which describes a person or thing as being similar to someone or something else”, according to the Collins Dictionary. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines a simile as “a figure of speech comparing two unlike things that is often introduced by like or as.”

Polyphony is a musical texture that features two or more equally prominent melodic lines played at the same time. Each of these lines can be thought of as a melody in its own right -- one that could be sung, played, or listened to independently of the others.

An example of polyphony would be the song "This Is How We Do It" by Montell Jordan. Another great example of polyphony would be "Ghetto Gospel" by Tupac. Both of these songs have interdependent choruses which align with the hip hop style of each of the artists, illustrating counterpoint.

Terraced dynamics are demonstrated in Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No. 1 in F major, performed by Karl Richter and the Münchener Bach Orchester. In this video example, you can hear abrupt changes in dynamics between the solo instruments playing mezzo piano (medium soft) and the full orchestra playing forte (loud).

[English] Expressive style typical of some early music in which volume levels shift abruptly from soft to loud and back without gradual crescendos and decrescendos.