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.

V

20 terms in this part of Pronouncing Dictionary of Musical Terms.

Vago (It.)

Valce (It.) (val-cheh), Valse (Fr.) (vals). Waltz; a dance of German origin in time.

Value

The value of a note or rest is its relative duration, the standard being the whole note or rest, which may be divided into half, quarter…

Variante (Fr.) (vah-ree-ongt)

Variations, Variationen (Ger.) (fah-ree-atse-o'-nen), Variazioni (It.) (va-ree-at-zeeo'-nee). Melodic, rhythmic, and harmonic modifications…

Vaudeville (Fr.) (vode-veel)

A light operetta consisting of dialogue interspersed with songs; the name is said to come from Vaux de Vire in Normandy. Velato (It.)…

Ventage

The holes in the tubes of wind instruments, the opening or closing of which by the finger-tip or by valves worked by keys alters the pitch…

Verlöschend (Ger.) (fehr-lesh'-end)

Vermittelungsatz (Ger.) (fehr-mit'-tel-oonksotz). A subsidiary part; episode in sonata, etc. Verschiebung (Ger.) (fehr - shee' - boonk)…

Vibration

The rapid motion to and fro that produces the phenomena of sound by setting up a wave-motion in the air. Vibrato (It.) (vee-brah'-to)…

Viol

The precursor of the violin. Viols were made in sets of six called a "chest of viols; the smallest was about the size of the modern viola…

Viola

The alto violin, generally called the tenor. The viola is slightly larger than the violin, and has four strings tuned as follows:- ΠO Music…

Viole (Fr.)

Viole d'amour (Fr.) (d'ah-moor), Viola d'amore (It.) (d'ah-mo-reh). A variety of the viola with wire sympathetic strings in addition to the…

Violina

A 4-foot organ-stop with string-like tone. The solo violin, or leader of the violins.

Violoncello (It.)

The violoncello has four strings of gut, tuned an octave below the viola :- P. The C and G strings are covered with wire.

V-cello – Violonaro (Fr.)

Abbreviation of Violoncello. Abbreviation of Viola.

Virginal

A small instrument of the harpsichord family. Vivier, E. L. (vee-vee-eh). Horn player; Corsica. B. 1821.

Vista (It.)

Sight. A prima vista, at first sight. Vistamente (It.) (vis-tah-men'-teh), Vitamente (It.) (vee-tah-men'-teh), Vive (Fr.) (veev), Vivente…

Vocalion

A variety of reed organ in which the quality and power of the tone is much modified by resonators. Vocalise (Fr.) (vo-cal-ees), Vocalizzi…

Voice

(I) The sound produced by the human organs of speech. (2) A part in a polyphonic composition. There are three well-marked varieties of the…

Volta (It.)

Turn. Una volta, first turn or first time. Volckmar, Wil. (folk'-mar). Composer, organist; Germany. B. 1812; d. 1887.

Vox (Lat.)

Vox celestis, Vox angelica. See Unda maris. Vox humana. An organ-stop imitating the human voice. (Fr., Voix humane).

Violone (It.) – Voix (Fr.) (vo-a)

The double bass, q. v. A soundless keyboard for practice.

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