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Scan 115
A dictionary of musical terms, 1889
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1The first school of the kind was established in France, in 1784, with the title of "L'école royale de chant et de déclamation." A national institute was started during the period of the Revolution, to supply the want of musicians in the army; this institute became the present Conservatoire de musique, for the support of which the government is charged with an annual sum of 140,000 francs. Many of the masters have been, and still are, men famed throughout the world for their practical skill and their success in teaching, and the text books used at the conservatoire are among the standard works of reference in their department. There are also establishments of a similar character at Brussels, Cologne, Prague, Warsaw, Vienna and Leipsic, the last named, established under the direction of Mendelssohn, is held to be one of the best in Germany.
3Consolante (It.) In a consoling, comforting manner.
5Consonance. Consonanz (Ger.) [Harmony.]
7Consonant. Concordant.
9Consonant interval. [Interval.]
11Con sordini (It.) (1) With the mutes on. (2) With the soft pedal at the pianoforte held down.
13Consort. (1) A consort of viols was a complete set, the number contained in a chest, usually six. [Chest of Viols.] (2) The sounds produced by the union of instrumental tone.
15Consort. (1) To sound together, to form agreeable sounds by combination. (2) To form a concord.
17Con stromenti (It.) With the instruments.
19Continued Bass. [Figured Bass.]
21Continuo (It.) [Figured Bass.]
23Contours. Conteurs (Fr.) [Trouveur.]
25Contra (It.) Against. In compound words this signifies an octave below, e.g.: Contra-gamba, a 16 ft. gamba; Contra-basso, a double bass; Contra-fagotto, a double bassoon.
27Contra-bassist. A double-bass player.
29Contra-basso (It.) [Double-bass.]
31Contra-danza (It.) [Country-dance.]
33Contra-fagotto (It) [Double bassoon.]
35Contralto voice. The voice of deepest tone in females. It is of a quality allied to the tenor voice in men, and the usual compass is within two octaves. The best notes of the range are between G or A flat below, and C or D above:
37The notes above these are of a somewhat harsh and forced character, those below of little musical value. In most contralto voices there is a break varying between C sharp and A flat in the lower part of the register, and the careful adjustment of the two qualities of tone above or below this break is one of the chief qualities of good contralto singing. [Alto Voice.]
39Contraposaune. An organ stop of 16 ft. and 32 ft. pitch.
41Contrappuntista (It.) A writer on, or a composer of counterpoint.
43Contrappunto (It.) [Counterpoint.]
45Contrappunto alla mente (It.). Impromptu counterpoint. [Alla Mente.] [Chant sur le livre.]
47Contrappunto doppio (It.) Double counterpoint. [Counterpoint.]
49Contrapuntal. Belonging to counterpoint.
51Contrapuntist. A writer on, or a composer of counterpoint.
53Contr'arco (It.) False or incorrect bowing on the violin, &c.
55Contrary motion. Melodies or chords proceeding in opposite directions. [Motion.]
57Contrassoggetto (It.) [Counter subject.]
59Contra tempo (It.) Against time. (1) The part progressing slowly while another is moving rapidly:
61(2) Syncopation.
63Contra-tenor. [Alto.]
65Contratöne (Ger.) Deep tones of the bass voice.
67Contra-violone (It.) Double-bass.
69Contre-basse (Fr.) Double-bass.
71Contre-danse (Fr.) [Country dance.]
73Contrepartie (Fr.) Counterpart, opposite.
75The entry of a second voice with a different melody, making harmony with the first.
77Contrepoint (Fr.) Counterpoint.
79Contrepointiste (Fr.) Contrapuntist.
81Contre-sujet (Fr.) [Counter subject.]
83Contre-temps (Fr.) Against time. Syncopation.
85Conversio (Lat.) Inversion.
87Convict of music. An institution for musical instruction in Leipsic; from Lat. convictus (convivere), living together, social intercourse. [Conservatorio.]
89Coperto (It.) Covered, concealed. Timpani coperti, muffled drums; quinti coperti, concealed fifths, hidden fifths.
91Copula (Lat.) In mediæval music a free use of slurred running notes in descant.
93Copyright is the exclusive right or privilege of printing, or reprinting, publishing, or selling his original work which is allowed by the law to an author. It is doubtful whether this is a right at common law, or whether (which seems the better opinion) it is merely the creature of legislative enactment. (See on this point the cases of Southey v. Sherwood,
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