Pronouncing Dictionary of Musical Terms

How to say it as well as what it means: every Italian, German and French musical term of 1896, respelled phonetically for the student.

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Figure

(I) A form of accompaniment maintained without change. (2) A repeated melodic phrase. (3) Sequence. Figured Bass, Basso figurato (It.), Basse chiffre (Fr.). A bass with figures over it (or under it) to indicate the chord each note is to bear. Invented as a species of musical short-hand it has been retained as a means of teaching harmony, although its warmest advocates admit its inadequacy to the indication of modern harmony.

Filar la voce (It.) (feelar-la-vocheh), Filer la voix (Fr.) (fee-leh-la-voa). To sustain a sound with even tone. Literally, to spin like a thread.

Fin (Fr.) (fang), Fine (It.) (fee-neh). End.

← Fieramente (It.)Finale (It.) (fee-nah-leh) →