G
Galliard
Galop (Fr.) (gah-lo), Galopade (Fr.) (galopahd), Galopp (Ger.). A rapid, lively dance in time. Gamba (It.) [the leg]. (1) See Viol di…
Gamma
The Greek letter g, T; in ancient music the letter G, first line bass staff; in the hexachord system this sound was called gamma ut, from…
Gavotta (It.)
An old dance in time; lively, yet dignified. Frequently introduced in the suite. Gedeckt (Ger.) [from decken, to close].
Gedicht (Ger.)
Gade, Niels W. (gah-deh). Composer; Denmark. B. 1817; d. 1890. Gadsby, H. R. Composer; England. B. 1842. Galelei, Vincenzo (gah-lee-leh-ee…
Gamme (Fr.) (gahm) – Gelassen (Ger.)
An organ-stop of 8- or 4foot pitch.
Generoso (It.) (jeh-neh-ro-so)
Gentille (Fr.) (zhong-til), Gentile (It.) (jentee-leh). Graceful; delicate. Con gentilezza (It.) (jen-tee-letza), with grace; nobility…
Ghazel or Gazel
A short Persian poem, used by Hiller as a name for short pianoforte pieces, in which a simple theme constantly occurs. Ghiribizzo (It.)…
Giga (It.)
Jig; a rapid dance in 6 time, used as the final movement in the suite, where it is often developed in fugue form. Giochevole (It.)…
Gioviale (It.) (jeo-ve-ah'-leh)
Gernsheim, F. (gurns-heim). Pianist, composer, conductor; Germany. B. 1839. Gerster, Etelka (gehrs-ter). Soprano; Hungary. B. 1855…
Gemächlich (Ger.) (geh-mehch-lich) – Gis (Ger.) (ghiss)
Taste. Mit Geschmack, with taste. Geschmackvoll, tasteful. Raised; exalted in volume; louder; crescendo.
Glee
A composition for three or more voice without accompaniment. The glee differs from the madrigal, its predecessor, in being constructed more…
Glide
(I) To connect two sounds by sliding. (2) A modern variety of the waltz. Glissando, Glissato, Glissicato, Glissicando (It.). To play a…
Glockenspiel (Ger.)
Bell play; a small in strument consisting of bells tuned to the diatonic scale, played by small hammers or by means of a keyboard. Steel…
Gong
A pulsatile instrument consisting of a disc of bronze, struck with drumstick with soft head. Gleason, F. Grant. Composer; U. S. A. B. 1848…
Graces
The ornamental notes first used in harpsichord playing; they are now nearly all obsolete or if used are written in full by the composer…
Graduellement (It.) (grah-doo-el-mong)
Gran cassa (It.). Great drum; long drum. Gran gusto (It.), con. With grand expression.
Grand Piano
Properly, the long, wingshaped pianoforte with keyboard at the wide end; commonly applied to all varieties of piano with three strings to…
Grandioso (It.) (gran-de-o'-so)
Grave [Fr., grahv; It., grah-veh]. Deep in pitch; slow; solemn. Godefroid, Felix (gode-froa). Composer, harpist; France. B. 1818; d. 1897.
Great Organ
The division of an organ that contains the most powerful stops, generally operated by the middle keyboard or manual, the upper being the…
Greek Music
The Greek system of music is still a subject of controversy about which very little is known. The best attempts at its elucidation may be…
Gregorian Chant
Goudimel, Claude (goo'-dee-mel). Composer; France. B. 1510; d. 1572. Composer; Gouvy, Theo. (goo-vee). Composer; France.
Grosse (Ger.) (gros-seh)
(I) Major, applies to intervals. (2) Great or grand, as, grosse Sonate. (3) An octave below standard pitch, as, grosse Nazard, an organ…
Giubilio (It.) (jew-bee-leo) – Grottesco (It.) (grot-tes'-ko)
Florid singing, with runs, trills, etc.
Ground Bass
A bass of four or eight bars, constantly repeated, each time with varied melody and harmony. The ground bass was generally used as the…
Group
(I) A series of rapid notes grouped together. (2) One of the divisions of the orchestra, as string group, brass group, wood group.
Guidonian Hand
A diagram consisting of a hand, with the syllables written on the tips of the fingers and on the joints, in- Grützmacher, F…
Guidonian Syllables
The syllables applied by Guido to the notes of the hexachord, ut, re, mi, fa, sol, la. When the octave scale was adopted si was added for…
Guitar
A string instrument with fretted fingerboard, played by plucking the strings with the fingers of the right hand, one of the oldest and most…
Gut (Ger.) (goot)
Good. Guter Taktteil, lit., good bar part; the accented part of the bar. Gungl, J. (goongl). Dance writer; Bohemia. B. 1810; d. 1889…