R
Rackett or Rankett
An obsolete instrument resembling the double bassoon; 16- or 18-foot stop in old organs. Raddolcendo (It.) (rad-dol-chen'-do), Raddolcente…
Radiating Pedals
A fan-shaped arrangement of the pedal keys of the organ; the narrow end of the fan farthest from the organ. Radiating pedals are generally…
Radical Bass
Slower. Same as Piu lento, or Meno mosso. Rallentando (It.) (ral-len-tan'-do), Rallentato (ral-len-tah'-to), Rallentare (ral-lentah'-reh)…
Rank
A row of organ-pipes belonging to one stop. Mixture-stops are of 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 ranks, according to the number of pipes that "speak" for…
Rant
An old dance. In Scotland many dance-tunes are called rants. Ranz des vaches (Fr.) (rongs deh vash).
Rauschquinte (Ger.) (rowsh'-kvin-teh)
Rameau, J. P. (rah-mo). Composer, theorist; France. B. 1683; d. 1764. RAUSCHER REGLE DE L'OCTAVE Rauscher (Ger.) (row-sher) [from rauschen…
Real Fugue
One in which the subject and answer are identical, as opposed to Tonal Fugue, q. v. One of the precursors of the violin in the middle ages.
Recht (Ger.)
Recitando (It.) (reh-chee-tan'-do), Recitante (reh-chee-tan-teh). In the style of a recitative. Recitative (Eng.), Recitatif (Fr.)…
Recitative Accompaniment
The string band is generally used to accompany Recitative. If the accompaniment is at all elaborate the freedom of the singer is greatly…
Redita (It.) (reh-dee-ta)
Redowa, Redowak, Redowazka. A Bohemian dance in time. 'Redundant. Same as Augmented. Ran'degger, A. Composer; Austria. B. 1832; d. 1912.
Reel
A lively dance, nationalized in Ireland and Scotland; supposed to be of Danish origin, as the same kind of dance is found there under the…
Refrain
Burthen. (I) The chorus at the end of every stanza of some ballads. (2) The drone of a bagpipe. (3) The tune sung as an accompaniment to…
Register
(1) Same as stop, or rank of pipes. (2) The projecting knobs on which the names of the stops are marked. (3) The compass of a voice. (4)…
Registration
The combinations and successions of stops used by an organist in the performance of a piece. Règle de l'octave (Fr.) (regl de loc-tav).
Relative Key
One whose tonic chord is one of the common chords found in the scale. Religioso (It.) (reh-lee-jo'-so), Religiosamente (reh - lee…
Remplissage (Fr.) (rom-plis-sazh)
Filling up. (1) The inner parts. (2) Sometimes used in the same sense as "development" (durchführung) in the sonata or rondo. (3)…
Repeat
A double bar with dots, thus signifies that the part before the double bar is to be repeated. If the dots are on both sides it signifies…
Repetition
(I) The reiteration of a note or chord. (2) A pianoforte action invented by Erard, which admits of the re-striking of a note before the key…
Replicate
The recurrence of the same letter in an ascending or descending series; the octave repetitions of a given letter. Reply, Répons (Fr.)…
Reprise (Fr.) (reh-prees)
(1) A repeat. (2) The re-entry of the principal theme in the second part of a sonata; also called Rentree (rong-treh). Reinhold, Hugo…
Rests
Signs indicating silence of the same duration as the notes for which they stand. In all varieties of time the whole rest is used to…
Rest (II)
Three forms of quarter-rest are found. No. I is generally found in music printed from type, Nos. 2 and 3 in engraved music. No. 2 is the…
Retardation
The prolonging of a sound which is a member of one chord into a chord in which it is not a member, thus producing a dissonance. See…
Reverie
A sentimental name used by some modern writers for composition of like character, generally in lyric form. Rhapsodie or Rhapsody [from Gr…
Rhythm
(1) The recurrence of accents at equal intervals of time. (2) The repetition of a group of sounds (not necessarily Rellstab, H. F. L…
Rigadoon
A rapid dance of French origin, generally in time. Rigore (It.) (ree-go-reh), con, Rigoroso (ree-go-ro-so). With rigor; exactly; in strict…
Ripieno (It.) (ree-pee-eh'-no)
A part that is not essential to the score, added to increase the volume of a tutti. Ripigliare (It.) (ree-peel-yah'-reh), Riprendere…
Ritmo (It.)
Ritmo a due battate. Of two measures. Ritmo a tre battate. Of three measures.
Röhrflöte (Ger.) (rare'-fla-teh)
Reed-flute; a flute-stop in the organ. Rôle (Fr.) (roll). The part in an opera or play assigned to any performer.
Rapido (It.) (rah'-pee-do) – Rutscher (Ger.) (root'-sher)
The clarified gum of the pitch pine. A species of fugue very highly elaborated.
Ruvido (It.) (roo'-vee-do)
Rythme (Fr.) (reethm), Bien rythmé (Fr.), Ben ritmato (It.). Well marked; exact. Roze, Marie P. Soprano; Paris. B. 1846.