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Scan 97
A dictionary of musical terms, 1889
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1(Fr.), Ciaccona (It.), Cachuca (Sp.), Czardasch (Hungarian), describe modern modifications of the Chica. [Bolero.] [Country Dance.]
2Chiesa (It.) Church. Sonata di Chiesa, a sacred sonata.
3Chiffres (Fr.) Figures, basse chiffrée, figured bass.
4Chime. (1) To play a tune on bells, either by machinery or by hand, by means of hammers, or swinging the clappers, the bell remaining unmoved. It is opposed to ringing in which the bells are raised, that is, swung round. (2) A carillon.
5Chirimia (Sp.) An oboe (from Chirimoya, a pear), the portion of the oboe in which the mouth-piece is inserted, called in German Birn, a pear.
6Chirogymnast. Finger-trainer. A contrivance for strengthening the fingers, consisting of a cross-bar, from which are suspended rings attached to springs. The term is also applied to any apparatus designed for a like object.
7Chironomy. Gk. χειρονομία. (1) Gesticulation by the use of the hands. (2) Directions given by movements of the hand, especially to a chorus. In the early church of the West such a system was much in vogue; and some have maintained that the signs of sounds, as then written, were merely pictorial representations of the movement of the hand.
8Chiroplast. Finger-former. An instrument invented by Logier in 1810, to facilitate the proper method of playing the pianoforte. It consisted of a position-frame, finger-guides, and a wrist-guide. The position-frame consisted of two parallel rails extending from one extremity of the keys to the other, and fastened to the pianoforte. This frame served as a line upon which the finger-guides travelled; these guides were two moveable brass frames, with five divisions for the fingers, and to each guide was attached a brass wire with a regulator, called the wrist-guide, by which the position of the wrist was preserved from inclination outwards. With the instructions for the use of the chiroplast, progressive lessons on the pianoforte were given; and in the success attending the use of the hand-guide, these lessons, which were cleverly designed, had doubtless as much to do as the machine itself, which, however, soon fell into disuse.
9Chitarra (It.) A guitar.
10Chitarra col arco (It.) A violin with sides gently curved, as in a guitar; without corners, as in an ordinary violin.
11Chitarrina (It.) A small Neapolitan guitar.
12Chiudendo (It.) Closing, ending. The word is generally employed in connection with another, chiudendo colla prima strofe, ending with the first verse.
13Chiuso (It.) Close, hidden, concealed, e.g., canone chiuso, a close canon, [Canon]; con bocca chiusa, with the mouth closed humming.
14Chœur (Fr.) [Chorus.]
15Choir. (1) A part of the building in a cathedral or collegiate chapel set apart for the performance of the ordinary daily service. The choir is generally situated at the eastern end of the building, and is frequently enclosed by a screen, upon which the organ is placed.
16(2) The minor canons, choral vicars, and choristers, or other singers taken collectively, are spoken of as the choir. The choral body is usually divided into two sets of voices, the one sitting on the north and the other on the south side of the chancel, and are known by the respective titles of Cantoris and Decani from their nearness to the Cantor (or Precentor) and to the Decanus (or Dean). In most cathedrals and collegiate chapels, the Decani side is held to be the side of honour, the best voices are placed there, and all the "verses" or soli parts, if not otherwise directed, are sung by that side, which is also considered the "first choir" (coro primo) in eight-part music.
17Choir-man. An adult member of a choir.
18Choir Organ. [Organ, § 1.]
19Chor (Ger.) Chorus. Choir of a church or concert room.
20Choragus. (Lat.) (1) The leader of the chorus in the ancient Greek drama. [Chorus.]
21(2) The title of a musical official at Oxford University, whose duties are described in the Statutes.
22Choral. (1) Of, or belonging to the choir, concert, or chorus. Choral service, a service with music. (2) A hymn or psalm tune.
23Choräle (Ger.) [Hymn tunes.]
24Choraliter (Ger.) In a choral form.
25Choralmässig (Ger.) [Choraliter.]
26Choral Music. Vocal music in parts, as opposed to instrumental.
27Choral Service. A service of song; a service is said to be partly choral, when only canticles, hymns, &c., are sung; wholly choral, when in addition to these, the versicles, responses, &c., are sung.
28Choral Vicars. [Lay Vicars.]
29Chor-amt (Ger.) Choral service. Cathedral service.
30Choraules (Gk. χοραύλης from χορός and αὐλήω.) (1) A player on the flute in the Greek Theatre. (2) One who keeps a chorus and plays in it himself.
31Chord. A combination of musical sounds, consonant or dissonant. [Harmony.]
32Chord. A string.
33Chorda characteristic. A chord of the 7th in which a leading note appears.
34Chordæ essentiales (late Lat.) The tonic and its 3rd and 5th. The key-chord.
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