Books › A dictionary of musical terms, 1891 › scan 27
Scan 27
A dictionary of musical terms, 1891
53 lines. Read by computer on 9 September 2026, twice; the two readings disagreed in places. No printed page number was found. See the scan on archive.org.
1Breast (old E.) The voice.
2Breath marks. Signs used in vocal music to show where breath should be taken, * ^ , ,, ' &c.
3Breit (G.) Broadly. Largamente.
4Brettgeige (G.) A pocket fiddle.
5Breve. In mediæval music, the note equal to half the value of a long, and one quarter of the double long or maxima. Its shape was ■■. It is now written thus, |o|, ||o||, □. one of two readings
6Breve. In mediæval music, the note equal to half the value of a long, and one quarter of the double long or maxima. Its shape was ■■. It is now written thus, |o|, ||o||, ■■. one of two readings
7Breviary. A book containing the daily service of the Roman Catholic or Greek Churches.
8Bridge. A piece of wood which, on instruments having a resonance-box, performs the double duty of raising the strings above the belly, and of terminating at one end their vibrating portion.
9Brillante (I. and F.) Brilliant, in a showy, sparkling style.
10—— assai (I.) Very brilliant and sparkling.
11Brillantissimo (I.) As brilliant and sparkling as possible.
12Brillenbässe (G.) "Spectacle basses;" music for the drum, so called from its resemblance to a pair of spectacles:—
14Brillo (I.) Joy, gladness.
15Brindisi (I.) A drinking song.
16Brio, con (I.) With spirit, vigour, and force.
17Brioso (I.) Joyfully, vigorously, forcibly.
18Brisé (F.) Broken chords, arpeggios.
19Broderies (F.) Ornaments used to cover any simple melody; graces, embellishments.
20Broken cadence. An interrupted cadence.
21—— chords. [Arpeggio.]
22—— music. Probably music played on harps, guitars, or lutes, because the sounds of these instruments cannot be sustained at will.
23Brontium (L.) A contrivance for imitating thunder, used in the Greek theatre.
24Brotundum (L.) B flat. [B cancellatum.]
25Brummeisen (G.) Jew's-harp.
26Bruscamente (I.) Coarsely, roughly, strongly accented.
27Brusco (I.) Coarse, rough.
28Buccina (I.) A crooked horn or trumpet of the ancient Romans, tuba being the straight trumpet.
29Buccinator. A muscle in the fleshy part of the cheeks, the contraction of which forces the air from the mouth. It derives its name from Buccinare (L.) to blow a trumpet.
30Buccolica (I.) Rustic. A la bucolique, Bucolique (F.) in a rustic manner.
31Büchse (G.) The boot or foot of an organ-pipe.
32Buffa, fem. (I.) Comic. Aria buffa, a Buffo, mas. humorous melody; opera buffa, a comic opera
33Buffet (F.) An organ case; keyboard case.
34Buffone (I.) A comic singer in the opera.
35Buffonescamente (I.) In a burlesque or humorous style.
36Bugle. (1) A hunting-horn of a straight or curved form. (2) A copper instrument of the horn quality of tone, but of less compass, furnished with keys.
37Buonaccordo (I.) A small triangular spinet for the use and amusement of children.
38Buonamente (I.) Justly, truly.
39Buona nota (I.) Accented note.
40Buon gusto (I.) In good taste.
41Burden. (1) The chorus or refrain of a song. (2) The drone of the bagpipe. (3) The tune sung as an accompaniment to a dance when there were no instruments.
42Burgomask. [Bergomask.]
43Burla (I.) A jest; raillery.
44Burlando (I.) In a jesting, comic manner; facetious, Burlescamente Burlesco merry. [Buffo.]
45Burlesca (I.) A jest, a movement in a jocular style, cf. scherzo.
46Burletta (I.) A comic operetta; a farce interspersed with songs.
47Busain. A reed-stop on the organ, Busaun. generally of 16-ft. length Buzain. and on the pedal organ.
48Busone (I.) An obsolete wind instrument, cf. bassoon.
49Buxea tibia (L.) A flute made of boxwood.
50Buxus wood. one of two readings
51Byssynge songes (early E.) Lullabies, cradle songs. one of two readings
52Buxus Byssynge songes (early E.) Lullabies, cradle songs. one of two readings
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