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Scan 96
A dictionary of musical terms, 1889
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1Chelidonizing (from the Gk. χελιδονίζω, to twitter like a swallow). Singing the swallow-song (χελιδόνισμα), a popular song sung by Rhodian boys in the month Boëdromian, on the return of the swallows, and made into an opportunity of begging. A similar song survives in modern Greece. A crow was also carried about by begging boys who sang; whence Gk. κορωνίζω. Examples of both songs are given by Athenæus. Pamphilicus of Alexandria, in his chapter on names, calls the men making collections for the crow, coronista, and their songs, coronismata. There was a similar custom in Ireland on St. Stephen's day. A number of young men carried a furze-bush on which a wren was tied, and stopping before the houses of the gentry, repeated the following lines:
3"The wren, the wren is the king of all birds,
4Was caught on St. Stephen's day in the furze,
5Although he's little, his family's great,
6Then pray, kind gentle folks, give him a treat."
8In England and Scotland there are many customs of a like character, as for example, "going a gooding" on St. Thomas's day; singing the Hagmena on the three days preceding Christmas day; the children's May-day march, when they carry garlands of spring-flowers and boughs, and stopping at the doors of people of the better sort, sing a long song, one verse of which runs:
10A branch of May we have brought you, And
11at your door it stands; It is but a sprout, but it's
12well bud-ded out, The works of our Lord's hands.
14Chelys. (Gk.) χέλυς, lit. a tortoise (Lat. testudo). (1) The lyre of Mercury, supposed to have been formed by strings stretched across a tortoiseshell. (2) In the 16th and 17th centuries a bass-viol and division-viol were each called chelys.
16Cheng. The Chinese organ, which consists of a series of tubes having free reeds. It is held in the hand and blown by the mouth. The introduction of this instrument into Europe led to the invention of the accordion and harmonium. Kratzenstein, an organ-builder of St. Petersburg, having become possessed of one, conceived the idea of applying the principle to organ-stops. The tone of free reeds is enforced by tubes, as in the cheng and in certain organ-stops, but the tubes can be dispensed with, as is the case in a harmonium.
18Cherubical hymn. The ter sanctus, or trisagion in the service of the Holy Communion, "Holy, holy, holy," &c.
20Chest of viols. An expression signifying a set of instruments necessary for a "consort of viols." They were six in number, namely two trebles, two tenors, and two basses. A chest of viols, with a harpsichord or organ, with an occasional hautboy or flageolet, formed an ordinary orchestra in the early part of the 17th century.
22Chevalet (Fr.) The bridge of a stringed instrument.
24Cheville (Fr.) A peg for a violin, guitar, lute, &c.
26Chevrote (Fr.) To skip, quiver, to sing with uncertain tone, after the manner of goats Alla vibrato.
28Chiara (It.) Clear, distinct, pure, e.g., chiara voce, clear voice; chiara quarta, a perfect fourth.
30Chiaramente (It.) Clearly, purely, distinctly.
32Chiarezza, con (It.) With brightness, clearness.
34Chiarina (It.) A clarion or trumpet.
36Chiave (It.) (1) Key or clef. (2) A failure. [Fiasco.]
38Chica. The name of a dance popular among the Spaniards and the South American settlers descended from them. It is said to have been introduced by the Moors, and to have been the origin of the Fandango, which some writers declare to be the Chica under a more decent form. It is of a similar character with the dance of the Angrismene performed at the festivals of Venus, and still popular among the modern Greeks. The English jig is said to be one form of the Chica. It is not a little singular that the word came into use soon after a free intercourse with Spain was opened. The words Chaconne
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