CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY Gift of Professor and Mrs. Donald J. Grout Music """^ ML 108.S781876""""' of musical terms. 1924 022 261 105 Cornell University ^w Library The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924022261105 : FOURTH THOUSAND. '"*M \ A DICTIONARY OF USICAL ilERMS EDITED BY J. STAINER, M.A., Mus. Doc, MAGD. COLL., OXFORD, W. A. BARRETT, Mus. BaC, S. MARY'S HALL, OXFORD. r^jfr-fc^tTrjiSs^tJ^r- LONDON n6vello, ewer and CO., I, BERNERS STREET (W.), AND 80 & 81, QUEEN STREET, CHEAPSIDE (E.C.) — — PREFACE. In a work of reference of this kind it is always difficult to find any definite principle by which to include or exclude the words to be explained. On the one hand, if all words however rare their use in music—were to be given, the bulk of the book would be inconveniently large : on the other hand, words seldom met with are from that very fact often more in need of explanation. The Editors hope, that from practical experience and knowledge, they have succeeded in collecting the chief musical terms met with in scientific, theoretical, and practical treatises, and in the more common annotated programmes and newspaper criticisms. That everj' subject should be treated in an exhaustive manner would be, of course, impossible ; but the Editors have endeavoured to give sufficiently true outlines of matters of fact to inform the amateur correctly, and intimate to the musical student the results to which his own reading will probably tend. The Editors are largely indebted to the following gentlemen who have contributed important articles, or have in other ways rendered them valuable assistance : R. H. M. Bosanquet, Esq., M.A., Fellow of St. John's College, Oxford, author of the article " Temperament." J. Bulley, Esq., M.A., of the Middle Temple, Barrister-at-Law, author of the articles " Licensing " and " Copyright." F. Champneys, Esq., M.A., M.B. (Oxon), M.R.C.P., F.L.S., " Medical Registrar of St. Bartholomew's Hospital ; late Radcliffe Travelling Fellow of the University of Oxford, author of the articles "Ear," "Larynx," and "Laryngoscope;" and for his explanation of the formation of the hand given in the article " Fingering." W. Chappell, Esq., F.S.A., author of the articles "Ballad" (Old English), "Greek Music " (Ancient Systems of), and " Notation '' (Early Systems of). A. E. Donkin, Esq., M.A., F.R.A.S., Fellow of Exeter College, Oxford, author of the article " Acoustics." A. J. Ellis, Esq., B.A., F.R.S., F.S.A., F.C.P.S., F.C.P., formerly Scholar of Trinity College, Cambridge, author of the article " Duodene." Henry Gadsby, Esq., for his account of Sonata Form in the article " Form." Rev. T. Helmore, M.A., Chaplain-in-Ordinaiy to the Queen, author of the article " Plain Song." — PREFACE. John Hullah, Esq., Government Inspector of Training Schools, for extracts from a paper read before the Musical Association on " Nomenclature." W. G. McNaught, Esq., author of the article "Tonic Sol-fa." W. H. Monk, Esq., Professor of Vocal Music, King's College, London, author of the article " Hymn Tunes." Also to Messrs. Broadwood, for permission to publish diagrams of their pianoforte action. Messrs. Cassell, for permission to quote from Musical Articles in the " Bible Educator." Messrs. Chappell, for permission to quote from " Popular Music in the Olden Time." Messrs. Erard, for permission tp reproduce their diagrams of pianoforte action. A. J. Hipkins, Esq., for valuable information on the subject of Tuning-Forks and Pitch. W. H. Husk, Esq., for an important list of early printed music, and other assistance. Messrs. Murray, for permission to quote music from Lane's " Modern Egyptians." Sacred Harmonic Society, for offering special facilities for the use of their valuable library. Rev. J. Troutbeck, M.A., Chaplain-in-Ordinary to the Queen, for permission to reprint diagrams from Troutbeck and Dale's " Music Primer." Henry Willis, Esq., for diagrams and explanations of his Pneumatic Bellows. : DICTIONARY OF MUSICAL TERMS. -A BATTUTA. A. (i) The note called Proslamhanomenos it. Proceeding upwards, the note one octave in the greater perfect system of the Greeks. above A is represented by a (italic) ; that two The letter-name of Mese, the highest note octaves above it by a (once underlined) ; that of the middle tetrachord; and of Nete, the three octaves above it, by g (twice underlined), highest note of the upper tetrachord. [Greek and so on. [Pitch.] Music] A. {It.) At, by, in, for, to, with, towards, — (2) The first note of (i) the Hypo-Dorian &c ; a prima vista, at first sight ; a battuta, mode, or church-scale, commencing four lit. by the beat, in strict time ; a tempo, in notes below the Dorian ; (2) the Hyper-Phry- time, &c. &c.; q.v. sub vocibus. gian mode, or church-scale, commencing four A. (Fr.) For, by, on; a deux mains, for q.v. vocibus. notes above the Phrygian; (3) the Eolianmode. two hands, &c. ; sub [Greek Music] Abacus {Lat.) a/jaf {Gk.) Any square — (3) The next note above Gamma Ut, tablet ; hence, a board on which calculations in the Grave Hexachord of the Guidonian were made ; hence, in music, a diagram of system, where it is A re. Also, the first note the notes with their names. of the acute and super-acute Hexachords, in A ballata (It.) (i) In the ballad style. which it is a la tni re. [Notation.] Applied to any song, duet, or chorus, con- — (4) The normal minor scale of modern structed in the ballad or narrative form. music, so-called because it is the relative Also to a song with a refrain in chorus, as minor of C. It is sometimes also named the is found in many old and modem English natural minor scale, because no sharps or songs ; for example, the song of which a flats are required in its signature. portion runs normal sound {Ger.NormaUon), — (5) The " Ich have house and land in Kent, because the instruments of an orchestra And if you love me, love rae now; tune to this note, as given by the Oboe or Two pence half penny is my rent, Organ. Ich cannot come everich day to woo." — (6) The key-note of the major scale, Chorus. three sharps for its signature. which has " Two pence half penny is his rent, " — (7) The name given to a string tuned He cannot come everich day to woo to the sound A. The A-string of a violin is —is a song, a ballata. its second string ; of a viola, its first string ; (2) The term is also used to describe a of a violoncello, its first string ; but on this vocal piece, that may be danced to. [Ballad.] instrument it is one octave lower in pitch Abbandonamente (It.) With self-aban- than the A-string of a violin or viola ; of a donment, despondingly. Double-Bass, its third string, which is two Abbandonarsi {It.) To abandon one- octaves lower in pitch than the first string of self (to the influence of the music). a violoncello ; of a guitar, its sixth string. Abbandono, con {It.) With self-aban- The string tuned highest in pitch is called donment, passionately. the first string of an instrument; the next Abbassamento {It.) A lowering. Ab- below it, the second ; and so on. bassamento di mano, a lowering of the hand; _(8) The actual sound ^ IS in some abbassamento di voce, a lowering of the systems represented by A (capital letter), while voice. AA represents the note one octave below that A battuta (/f.) In strict time. This term is sound, and AAA the note two octaves below usually employed when a break in the time of . ABBELIRE ABBREVIATION. Obb Obbligato a movement has occurred, and it is desirable Fag Fagotto .Falsetto Oberst. ...Oberstimme to resume the original pace " by the beat." Falset Ff. or Fff... Fortissimo 8br-.;:}oi'---'' Weber. PI Flauto , ReciU tempo a battuta. Oh. ped. ...Ohne pedal f:0rg.".".}P"'10^g^" Org Organ 8™ }°"^^^ :::::: 8" alta ... Ottava alta 8" bassa G Gauche bas. ...Ottava G. O. ...) G. Org... S-Great Organ P Piano Pedal Gt j Ped Grand" ...Grandioso Perd Perdendosi. Graz" Grazioso P.F Piu forte Gr Grand Piang. Piangendo Pianiss. ...Pianissimo Abbelire (It.) To overload a plain melody Hauptw. ) Pizz Pizzicato Pmo. ... -. with ornaments. Hptw. ... > Hauptwerk H.P PP. ... [-Pianissimo Abbelitura (/f Ornament, embellishment. J .) Haut Hautboy Abblasen (Ger.) To sound a trumpet call. PPP ") H.C Haute Contra "' P'^n'ssissimo Abbreviare (It.) To shorten. PPPP f Abbreviation. A system frequently em- Intro Introduction lf"» Prima l"" Primo ployed in music, by which a portion of a Inv Inversion technical term is made to stand for the whole. 4'te L Left Quartet 5'K The following is a list of the abbreviations in Leg Legato Quintet most common use; the explanation of each Legg° Leggiero Rail Rallentando term may be found on reference to the words L.H Left hand Lo Loco Raddol. ...Raddolcendo themselves in their proper places : Luo Luogo Recit Recitative Cantab .Cantabile Lusing. ...Lusingando ;;;}^="'"^"'*° ^orrfnf:}K'"^°"^"'^° Accel" Cello ... .Violoncello RH Right hand Ace. Cemb ... .Cembalo M —St.LAccompani- 1 Ritar Main. ... t Manual Ritardando Accom... Ch . Choir organ "«"' ... Riten Ritenuto Accomp.J Chal ... .Chalameau Mano. J - Accres Accresciamento Clar ... .Clarinet Maest" ...Maestoso S Senza Adg" or ad". Adagio Clar«» .Clarinetto Magg Maggiore A Sign Clar ... .Clarino Man Manuals K. ''•''""" Scherz. ...Scherzando Ad lib"!; }^^ Co, So. Gome Sopra Mancando 2''» Seconda Affett" ...Affettuoso ColC.