Questions tagged [terminology]
For questions about the terms used to describe music or the language used within the musical field. Questions about symbols should use the "notation" tag.
1,031 questions
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Is there a musical term for notes that are sharps or flats?
I'm familiar with the term 'accidental' to mean a sharp or flat, but that's in relation to a particular key... and of course it includes naturals too.
Is there a general term to identify the black ...
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What is the descending pattern in Händel's Passacaglia called?
I am talking about the part where you are switching between a bright tone and a descending tone, not lowering the bright tone until you reached an octave lower in the descending tone. I found I like ...
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Is there a theory term for a harmony/instrumental line moving back and forth between two notes?
Like between the F and Eb at the beginning of this song:
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Is there a term for a run of notes of the same length?
I've noticed that many of the pieces I enjoy playing contain long monophonic runs of unsyncopated notes of the same length. Is there a good search term I can use to find more music that features this ...
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what's the name for the 'repeat chord' symbol? [duplicate]
i'd like to know the NAME for the './.' symbol we encounter in e.g. fake books, and some history about how it came to represent that instruction.
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What are the "Christophe changes", who first came up with them, and what numbers use them?
Most of us have probably heard of (and used!) "rhythm changes", or "1-6-4-5", but today I came across a set of chords that got called the "Christophe changes". A new one ...
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Is "shower" a known term among professional orchestras?
In the English translation of "Absolutely on Music," Seiji Ozawa recounts an episode at La Scala in which the musicians of the orchestra rallied behind him:
Page 236 from the paperback:
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How is the phrase "composers of the canon" likely to be understood? (from the opening of the 2022 film Tár)
The 2022 feature film Tár (also IMDB) is recognized as having some degree of accuracy and trueness with respect to music and direction, so I think it's OK to premise my question as follows.
The film ...
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What does “mm. 1-6” mean in music terms?
What does the expression “mm. 1-6” mean in music terms? My homework is requiring me to find the embellished notes (non-chord). The excerpt is from Clara Wieck Schumann, Larghetto, Op. 15, No.1. But ...
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Is there a name for this chord progression?
Is there a name for this chord progression happening at the end of a riff before returning to the tonic which is Cm ?
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Chopin's Op. 66 Fantaisie-Impromptu - "ed. accel." - what does it really mean?
I came across the Josef Friedrich edition of Chopin's Fantaisie-Impromptu Op. 66 that claims to follow the recently discovered manuscript of the piece in Chopin's autograph. This edition is also ...
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Can the term "iso-polyphony" be used generally, or is it considered only Albanian?
According to Unesco article on Albanian folk iso-polyphony,
The term iso is related to the ison of Byzantine church music and refers to the drone accompanying polyphonic singing.
Wikipedia and many ...
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Is there a name for the fundamental beat in drum and bass (not the amen or funky drummer samples)
Most of the Drum and Bass tracks I listen to have a main section where there is a very simple characteristic pattern that has the snare on 2 and 4 and the kick drum on 1 and the 'and' of 3.
so in 8ths ...
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What is the TYPE of software called that allows you to compose and synthesize music?
So, I don't know the first thing about music.... but that doesn't mean I don't want to mess around and see what I can come up with. I've always wanted to try and compose something digitally, on a PC.
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What are the intervals in terms of tonal value? [duplicate]
The obvious thing to say right away is that intervals can be perfect, major and minor. I think this is no secret to anyone. At the same time, perfect intervals cannot be major and minor and vice versa....