Meaning

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Music Words Meaning

S

SACKBUT

The sackbut was a musical instrument of the brass family, like a bass trumpet, so contrived that it can be lengthened or shortened according to the tone required. It was said to be the same as the trombone. The sackbut of the Scriptures is supposed to have been a stringed instrument.

SAINT-SAENS

Camille Saint-Saens was a French composer. He was born in 1835 in Paris and died in 1921.

SAMBUKE

The sambuke was an ancient stringed musical instrument used by the Greeks, the particular construction of which is unknown.

SAMISEN

The samisen is a Japanese musical instrument with three strings, resembling a guitar or banjo.

SAMUEL BARBER

Samuel Barber was an American composer. He was born in 1910 at West Chester and died in 1981. He trained at the Curtis Institute of Music, Philadelphia. One of the best-known American composers of the neoromantic school, he received the Prix de Rome in 1935, Pulitzer Traveling Scholarships in music in 1935 and 1936, a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1945, and the Pulitzer Prize for music in 1958 and 1963. Among his compositions for orchestra are the overture to The School for Scandal written in 1933, Adagio for Strings written in 1936, and two symphonies written in 1936 and 1944; concertos for violin written in 1940, cello written in 1945, and piano written in 1962; and the ballets Medea written in 1946. He also composed works for chorus, chamber ensemble, and piano, and he is noted for his songs. His first opera, Vanessa written in 1958, has been recorded. His second opera, Antony and Cleopatra written in 1966, was commissioned for the opening performance at the new Metropolitan Opera House in New York City.

SAUT

In ballet, a saut is a jump off both feet landing in the same position.

SAX-TUBA

The sax-tuba is a powerful musical instrument of brass, curved somewhat like the Roman buccina, or tuba.

SAXHORN

The saxhorn is a musical instrument of the brass family. It evolved from the bugle-horn, but has valves instead of keys. The name derives from it's inventor, Adolphe Sax.

SAXOPHONE

The saxophone is a metal musical instrument of the woodwind family, invented by Adolphe Sax and containing a reed, and partaking of the qualities both of a brass instrument and of a clarinet. It consists of a conical brass tube, curved forwards and upwards at the bottom, and having a short section bent backwards at the top, upon which a mouthpiece and reed resembling those of the clarinet are fitted. The instrument contains twenty lateral holes, which are covered by keys and studs, and manipulated by the first three fingers of each hand of the player. Saxophones, like saxhorns, are made in a variety of keys and sizes, but all are fingered in a similar manner.

SCALE

In music, a scale is the graduated series of all the tones, ascending or descending, from the keynote to its octave. It may be repeated through any number of octaves.

SCENA

In music a scena is an accompanied dramatic recitative, interspersed with passages of melody, or followed by a full aria.

SCHERZANDO

In music, scherzando describes a playful or sportive manner of playing.

SCHERZO

In music a scherzo is a playful, humorous movement, commonly in 3-4 measure, which often takes the place of the old minuet and trio in a sonata or a symphony.

SCHOTTISCHE

The schottische is a form of round dance which resembles a polka. Its music is usually written in 2/4 time, but the Highland schottische is often danced to strathspey tunes.

SCORE

In music a score is the original and entire draught, or its transcript, of a composition, with the parts for all the different instruments or voices written on staves one above another, so that they can be read at a glance. It is so called from the bar, which, in its early use, was drawn through all the parts.

SECOND

In music a second is the interval between any tone and the tone which is represented on the degree of the staff next above it. The term is also applied to the second part in a concerted piece.

SECONDO

In music a secondo is the second part in a concerted piece.

SEGUIDILLA

The seguidilla is a sixteenth century Andalusian dance in triple time, probably of Moorish origin. It resembles a brisker bolero, accompanied by guitar and castanets, interspersed with the singing of vocal couplets.

SEMIBREVE

A semibreve is a musical note of half the time or duration of the breve. It is the longest note in general use.

SEMICHORUS

In music a semichorus is a half chorus or a passage to be sung by a selected portion of the voices, as for example by the female voices only, in contrast with the full choir.

SEMIDIAPASON

In music, a semidiapason is an imperfect octave.

SEMIDIAPENTE

In music a semidiapente is an imperfect or diminished fifth.

SEMIDIATESSARON

In music a semidiatessaron is an imperfect or diminished fourth.

SEMIDITONE

In music a semiditone is a lesser third, having its terms as 6 to 5.

SEMIQUAVER

A semiquaver is a musical note of half the duration of the quaver.

SEMITONE

In music, a semitone is a half-sized step, as between C and C sharp.

SENSIBLE NOTE

In music the name sensible note is applied to the major seventh note of any scale. It is so called because, being but a half step below the octave, or key tone, and naturally leading up to it, it makes the ear sensible of its approaching sound.

SEPTET

In music, a septet is a piece for seven singers or players; or a group of seven such singers or players. Several different instrumental combinations are possible: Beethoven's Septet in E uses clarinet, bassoon, horn, violin, viola and double bass; Ravel's Introduction and Allegro, though not described as such, is in fact a septet for flute, clarinet, harp and string quartet. Other composers using this medium include Hummel, Spohr, and Schoenberg.

SEPTIMOLE

A septimole is a group of seven notes to be played in the time of four or six.

SEQUENCE

In music, a sequence is the repetition of a melodic phrase at a higher or lower pitch but without any key change. If the repetition is purely melodic, it is called a melodic sequence; if it involves a progression of chords, it is a harmonic sequence, and if slight variations are needed because the phrase involves semitones when moved up or down, this is a tonal sequence. When a change of key occurs but the melodic or harmonic pattern remains the same, the correct term for the sequence is a rosalia. Sequences were skilfully used by Mozart, and Romantic composers in the nineteenth century loved to build up dramatic tension by means of sequences urging the music on to a climax. The word is also applied to a medieval chant which was introduced into the Mass after the Gradual and the Alleluia - i.e. a sequential addition. The practice of interpolating such hymns was widespread until 1560, when the Council of Trent abolished all save four: the Victimae paschali laudes at Easter; Veni sancte spiritus at Whitsun; Lauda Sion for Corpus Christi; and the Dies Irae for a Requiem Mass. In 1727 a further sequence was allowed, the Stabat Mater.

SERAPHINE

The seraphine is a wind instrument whose sounding parts are reeds, consisting of a thin tongue of brass playing freely through a slot in a plate. It has a case, like a piano, and is played by means of a similar keyboard, the bellows being worked by the foot. The melodeon is a portable variety of this instrument.

SERENADE

A serenade is evening music, especially that sung or played in the open air. Originally it was the song of a troubadour wooing a girl beneath her window (and is used as such, mockingly, in Mozart's Don Giovanni). Later it was expanded into a form of agreeable, entertaining music for instrumental groups, and became hardly distinguishable from a cassation or divevtimento. Mozart wrote a number of serenades, including the Haffner, for a Salzburg wedding, and the name has been attached to works by Richard Strauss, Stravinsky, and Copland.

SERENATA

A serenata is a piece of vocal music, especially one on an amorous subject. The name serenata was given by Italian composers in the time of Handel, and by Handel himself, to a cantata of a pastoreal of dramatic character, to a secular ode, etc.; also by Mozart and others to an orchectral composition, in several movements, midway between the suite of an earlier period and the modern symphony.

SERGEI PROKOFIEV

Sergei Prokofiev was a Russian composer. He was born in 1891 in the Ukraine and died in 1953.

SERGEI RACHMANINOV

Sergei Rachmaninov was a Russian composer. He was born in 1873 and died in 1943. He composed Concertos, preludes (Prelude in C sharp minor), symphonies.

SERGI RACHMANINOV

Sergi Rachmaninov was a Russian composer born near lake ilman in 1873. He died in 1943. He wrote pieces for the piano.

SERPENT

The serpent was a bass wind instrument, of a loud and coarse tone, formerly much used in military bands, and sometimes introduced into the orchestra. It was so called from its form.

SESQUIALTER

In music, a sesquialter is a stop on the organ, containing several ranks of pipes which re-enforce some of the high harmonics of the ground tone, and make the sound more brilliant.

SESQUITONE

In music a sesquitone is a minor third, or interval of three semitones.

SESTET

A sestet is a piece of music composed for six voices or six instruments.

SEVENTEENTH

In music a seventeenth is an interval of two octaves and a third.

SEVENTH

In music a seventh is an interval embracing seven diatonic degrees of the scale. The term is also given to a chord which includes the interval of a seventh whether major, minor, or diminished.

SEXTOLET

In music a sextolet is a double triplet; a group of six equal notes played in the time of four.

SFORZANDO

In music a sforzando is a direction placed over a note, to signify that it must be executed with peculiar emphasis and force.

SHAKE

In music the term shake describes a rapid alternation of a principal tone with another represented on the next degree of the staff above or below it.

SHAWM

The shawm was an ancient musical wind instrument that resembled either the clarinet or the hautboy in form.

SIGNATURE

In music a signature is the designation of the key (when not C major, or its relative, A minor) by means of one or more sharps or flats at the beginning of the staff, immediately after the clef, affecting all notes of the same letter throughout the piece or movement. Each minor key has the same signature as its relative major.

SIR ARTHUR SULLIVAN

Sir Arthur Seymour Sullivan was an English composer. He was born in 1842 and died in 1900.

SIR EDWARD ELGAR

Sir Edward Elgar was an English composer. He was born in 1857 and died in 1934.

SIR EDWARD GERMAN

Sir Edward German was an English composer. He was born in 1862 at Whitchurch and died in 1936. He produced light operas including Merrie England and Tom Jones.

SIR FREDERICK OUSELEY

Sir Frederick Ouseley was an English composer. He was born in 1825 in London and died in 1889. He mainly wrote church music.

SIR GRANVILLE BANTOCK

Sir Granville Bantock was an English composer and conductor. He was born in 1868 and died in 1946. He toured the world with the Gaiety Company and conducted at Festivals in Great Britain and Canada before becomming Professor of Music at Birmingham University in 1908, a post he held until 1934.

SIR HENRY BISHOP

Sir Henry Rowley Bishop was an English composer. He was born in 1786, dying in 1855. He wrote home sweet home.

SIR JOHN GOSS

Sir John Goss was an English composer and author. He was born in 1800 at Fareham and died in 1880. He played the organ at St Paul's Cathedral and composed church music, mainly anthems and hymns.

SIR JOHN STAINER

Sir John Stainer was an English composer and organist. He was born in 1840 at London and died in 1901. He was organist at St Paul's Cathedral from 1872 to 1878 and was knighted in 1888. He became professor of music at Oxford in 1889.

SIR WILLIAM WALTON

Sir William Walton was an English composer. He was born in 1902 at Oldham.

SISTRUM

The sistrum is a musical instrument consisting of a thin metal frame, through which pass a number of metal rods, and furnished with a handle by which it is shaken and made to rattle. It was peculiarly Egyptian, and used especially in the worship of Isis. It is still used in Nubia.

SITAR

The sitar is an Indian musical instrument similar to the lute.

SIXTEENTH

In music a sixteenth is an interval comprising two octaves and a second.

SIXTH

In music a sixth is the interval embracing six diatonic degrees of the scale.

SKIP

In music the term skip describes a passage from one sound to another by more than a degree at once.

SLIDE

In music the term slide describes the passing from one note to another with no perceptible cessation of sound. The name slide is also given to a grace consisting of two or more small notes moving by conjoint degrees, and leading to a principal note either above or below. A slide is an apparatus in the trumpet and trombone by which the sounding tube is lengthened and shortened so as to produce the tones between the fundamental and its harmonics.

SMORZANDO

In music, smorzando means growing gradually fainter and softer or dying away.

SOL-FA

Sol-fa is a system of musical notation which was founded by Miss Glover and John Curwen.

SOLFEGGIO

In music, solfeggio is the system of arranging the scale by the names do, re, mi, fa, sol, la, si, by which singing is taught.

SOLO

In music a solo is a tune, air, strain, or whole piece, played by a single person on an instrument, or sung by a single voice.

SONATA

Sonata is an important form of musical composition comprising classically four movements. The modern form of sonata was fixed by Emanual Bach in the 18th century. The same general structure prevails in symphonies, instrumental trios, quartets, etc., and even in classical concertos. The sonata form, distinctively, characterises the quick opening movement, which may have a short, slow introduction; the second, or slow, movement is either in the song or variation form; third comes the playful minuet or the more modern scherzo; then the quick finale in the rondo form. But both form and order are sometimes exceptional.

SONATINA

A sonatina is a short and simple sonata.

SOPRANIST

A sopranist is a treble singer.

SOPRANO

In music, soprano is the highest kind of female or boy's voice, forming the upper part in harmony for mixed voices. The name is also given to a singer, commonly a woman, with a treble voice.

SORDUN

The sordun was an old form of woodwind instrument, having a double reed, with twelve ventages and two keys.

SOSTENUTO

In music the term sostenuto is applied to a movement or passage the sounds of which are to sustained to the utmost of the nominal value of the time and also, to a passage the tones of which are to be somewhat prolonged or protracted.

SOTTO VOCE

In music, sotto voce means with a restrained voice or moderate force.

SOUNDING POST

In music a sounding post (sound post) is a small post in a violin, violoncello, or similar instrument, set under the bridge as a support, for propagating the sounds to the body of the instrument.

SOUNDING-BOARD

A sounding-board is a thin board which propagates the sound in a piano, in a violin, and in some other musical instruments.

SPICCATO

In music, spiccato is a direction to performed in a distinct and pointed manner.

SPINET

A spinet (virginal) is a keyed musical instrument of the harpsichord type, but with only one string to a note and therefore less volume. It is generally square in shape and the strings are plucked. Spinets were popular between 1500 and 1760 especially during the reign of Elizabeth I in England.

SPIRITOSO

In music, spiritoso is a direction to perform in an animated, lively manner.

STACCATO

In music, staccato is a direction to perform in a short, distinct, and pointed manner. It is opposed to legato, and often indicated by heavy accents written over or under the notes, or by dots when the performance is to be less distinct and emphatic.

STEPHEN FOSTER

Stephen Collins Foster was an American composer and song-writer. He was born in 1826 at Lawrenceville and died in 1864. He was especially renowned for his negro-melodies.

STICCADO

A sticcado is an instrument consisting of small bars of wood, flat at the bottom and rounded at the top, and resting on the edges of a kind of open box. They are unequal in size, gradually increasing from the smallest to the largest, and are tuned to the diatonic scale. The tones are produced by striking the pieces of wood with hard balls attached to flexible sticks.

STICKER

In an organ, a sticker is a small wooden rod which connects a key and a pallet, so as to communicate motion by pushing.

STOP

On music, the term stop describes regulating the sounds of musical strings by pressing them against the finger board with the finger, or by shortening the vibrating part of other musical instruments.

STRAIN

A strain is a portion of music divided off by a double bar forming a complete musical period or sentence. The term may be applied to a movement, or any rounded subdivision of a movement.

STRATHSPEY

Strathspey is a Scottish dance said to have originated in the Strath valley of the Spey around the start of the 18th century.

STRETTO

In an opera or oratorio, a stretto is a coda, or winding up, in an accelerated time.

SUBDOMINANT

In music the subdominant is the fourth tone above, or fifth below, the tonic. It is so called from being under the dominant.

SUBMEDIANT

In music, the submediant is the sixth tone of the scale; the under mediant, or third below the keynote; the superdominant.

SUBTONIC

In music a subtonic is the seventh tone of the scale, or that immediately below the tonic.

SUITE

A suite is one of the old musical forms, before the time of the more compact sonata, consisting of a string or series of pieces all in the same key, mostly in various dance rhythms, with sometimes an elaborate prelude.

SUPERDOMINANT

In music the superdominant is the sixth tone of the scale; that next above the dominant.

SWELL

In music a swell is a gradual increase and decrease of the volume of sound; the crescendo and diminuendo combined.

SYMPHONY

A symphony is an elaborate instrumental composition for a full orchestra, consisting usually, like the sonata, of three or four contrasted yet inwardly related movements, as the allegro, the adagio, the minuet and trio, or scherzo, and the finale in quick time. The term has recently been applied to large orchestral works in freer form, with arguments or programmes to explain their meaning, such as the symphonic poems of Liszt. The term was formerly applied to any composition for an orchestra, as overtures, etc., and still earlier, to certain compositions partly vocal, partly instrumental.

SYNCOPATION

In music syncopation is a peculiar figure of rhythm, or rhythmical alteration, which consists in welding into one tone the second half of one beat with the first half of the beat which follows.