Books › A dictionary of musical terms, 1907 › scan 104
Scan 104
A dictionary of musical terms, 1907
24 lines. Read by computer on 16 September 2026. Printed page 94. See the scan on archive.org.
1applied to the former kind, especially to the triad.—Applied to an entire composition, the chordal (harmonic) structure, in contradistinction to the melody and rhythm; hence, 2-part, 3-part harmony, according to the number of parts present…Chromatic h., that in which many chromatic tones and modulations are introduced; opp. to diatonic h…Close h. (in 4-part writing), that in which the 3 highest parts lie within the compass of an octave; opp. to open h…Compound h., that in which 2 or more of the tones essential to a chord are doubled; opp. to simple h…Dispersed, extended h., see Open h…Essential h., (a) the fundamental triads of a key; (b) the harmonic skeleton of a composition, left after pruning off all figuration and ornaments…Figured h., that in which the simple chords are varied or broken up by foreign and passing tones, anticipations, suspensions, and other devices; opp. to plain h…Open h. (in 4-part writing), that in which the 3 highest parts spread beyond the compass of an octave…Pure h., music performed with pure intonation (motet, string-quartet;) opp. to tempered h…Spread h., open h…Strict h., composition according to strict rules for the preparation and resolution of dissonances…Tempered h., music performed with tempered intonation (pfte., organ); see Temperament.
3Harp. (Ger. Har'fe; Fr. harpe; It. ar'pa.) A stringed instr. of ancient origin and wide dissemination, played by plucking the strings with the fingers and thumbs of both hands.—The modern orchestral harp (Erard's double-action harp) has a nearly 3-cornered wooden frame, the apex or foot of which is formed by an upright pillar meeting the hollow back (the upper side of which bears the soundboard) in the pedestal; the upper, divergent ends of pillar and back are united by the curving neck. The gut strings, stretched vertically between soundboard and neck, and tuned by wrestpins inserted in the latter, are 46 (or 47) in number, and variously colored to render them readily distinguishable; the 8 lowest strings are covered with fine wire. Compass, six and one-half octaves, from Cb to f' (or g'':
5this is the fundamental diatonic scale; the intermediate chromatic tones are obtained by the use of 7 pedals adjusted in the pedestal, each pedal acting on all the strings of the same letter-name in such a way that, when pressed to its first position, the pitch of every string affected is raised a semitone, and, when the pedal is pressed down to its second position, a semitone higher. Thus, by depressing all 7 pedals once, the scale would be raised from Cb to C; by depressing them twice, to C# (Db); by suitable combinations, any desired key may be obtained. The depressed pedals are held in position by notches. As on the Jankó keyboard, the fingering of the scale is the same for every key. Natural harmonics are obtainable; the first harmonic (the octave of the tone of the open string) is that almost exclusively employed. Music for the harp is written on 2 staves as for the pfte.—In the old single-action harp each pedal can change the pitch of its note by only one semitone; scale, Eb; compass, 5 octaves and a sixth, from F1 to d4:
7A Double Harp has 2 rows of strings tuned dissimilarly; a Triple Harp has 3 such rows…Æolian h., see Æolian…Couched h., the spinet…Dital harp, see Dital…Double-action pedal-harp, see Harp…Welsh h., a kind of triple harp.
9Harpeg'gio, Harpeggie'ren. See Arpeggio, Arpeggiate.
11Harpicor'do. Same as Arpicordo.
13Harp-lute. See Dital harp.
15Harpo-lyre (Fr.) A kind of improved guitar, with 21 strings and 3 necks; inv. 1829 by Salomon of Besançon.
17Harp-pedal. See Pedal.
19Harp'sichord. (Ger. Kiel'flügel; Fr. clavecin; It. arpicor'do, clavicem'balo.) A keyboard stringed instr. in which the strings were twanged by quills or bits of hard leather (see Pianoforte).—Vis-à-vis harpsichord, one with a keyboard at either end or side, for 2 performers.
21Harp-way tuning. Favorite early English tunings (scordature) of the viola da gamba; termed harp-way tunings because admitting of a ready execution of arpeggios:
23Sharp: Flat:
The computer misreads some letters and numbers. Where a name matters to you, read the scan.