Books › A dictionary of musical terms, 1907 › scan 122
Scan 122
A dictionary of musical terms, 1907
53 lines. Read by computer on 16 September 2026, twice; the two readings disagreed in places. Printed page 112. See the scan on archive.org.
1Lavol'ta (It.) An old Italian dance in triple time, resembling the waltz.
3Lay. A melody or tune.
5Le (Fr. and It.) The.
7Lead. 1. The giving-out or proposition of a theme by one part.—2. A cue (comp. Presa).
9Leader. 1. Conductor, director.—2. In the orchestra, the first violin; in a band, the first cornet; in a mixed chorus, the first soprano.—(In small orchestras the leader [1st violin] is still, as was the rule in earlier times, also the conductor.)
11Leading. 1 (noun). In a composition, the melodic progression of any part or parts.—2 (adjective). Principal, chief; guiding, directing…Leading-chord, the dominant chord, as leading into that of the tonic…Leading melody, principal melody or theme…Leading-motive, see Leitmotiv…Leading-note, -tone (Ger. Leit'ton; Fr. note sensible; It. no'ta sensi'abile), the 7th degree of the major and harmonic minor scales; so called because of its tendency, in certain melodic and chordal progressions, to the tonic.
13Leaning-note. Appoggiatura.
15Leap. 1. In piano-playing, a spring from one note or chord to another, in which the hand is lifted clear of the keyboard.—2. See Skip.
17Leben'dig, Leb'haft (Ger.) Lively, animated. (Also adverb.)…Leb'haftigkeit, animation; Mit L. und durchaus' mit Empfindung und Ausdruck, with animation, and with feeling and expression throughout.
19Ledger-line. See Leger-line.
21Legan'do. (It.) See Legato.
23Lega'to (It.; superl. legatis'simo.) "Bound"; a direction to perform the passage so marked in a smooth and connected manner, with no break between the tones; also indicated by the legato-mark, a curving line drawn over or under notes to be so executed…Lega'tobogen (Ger.), legato-mark, slur.
25Legatu'ra (It.) A tie; a syncopation…L. di voce, see Ligature 2.
27Le'gend. (Ger. Legen'de; Fr. légende.) A composition based on a poem of lyrico-epic character, the poem serving either as text or program…Legen'den-ton, im (Ger.), in the style of a romance or legend.
29Léger, légère (Fr.) Light, nimble…Légèremen't, lightly, nimbiy.
31Leg'er-line. (Ger. Hilfs'linie; Fr. ligne ajoutée; It. ri'go aggiun'to or finto.) One of the short auxiliary lines used for writing notes which lie above or below the staff. Leger-lines are counted away from the staff, either up or down…Leger-space, a space bounded on either side or both sides by a leger-line.
33Leggerez'za (It.) Lightness, swiftness…Leggermen'te, lightly, swiftly…Legge'ro, same as Leggiero.
35Leggiadramen'te. (It.) Neatly, elegantly, gracefully…Leggia'dro, neat, graceful, elegant; in a brisk and cheerful style.
37Leggieramen'te, Leggiermen'te (It.) Lightly, swiftly…Leggie're, light, etc…Leggierez'za, lightness, swiftness…Leggie'ro, a direction indicating, in piano-technic, that the passage is to be performed with as great lightness as is consistent with the degree of loudness required; generally in swift piano passages with little rhythmical emphasis. It differs from Legato in calling for a mere down-stroke of the fingers without pressure, and with a quick, springy recoil…L. con moto, lightly and swiftly. one of two readings
38Leggieramen'te, Leggiermen'te (It.) Lightly, swiftly…Leggie're, light, etc…Leggiererez'za, lightness, swiftness…Leggie'ro, a direction indicating, in piano-technic, that the passage is to be performed with as great lightness as is consistent with the degree of loudness required; generally in swift piano passages with little rhythmical emphasis. It differs from Legato in calling for a mere down-stroke of the fingers without pressure, and with a quick, springy recoil…L. con moto, lightly and swiftly. one of two readings
40Le'gno, col (It.) "With the stick"; in violin-playing, a direction to let the stick of the bow fall on the strings.
42Leicht (Ger.) 1. Light, brisk.—2. Easy, facile…Leicht bewegt, (a) leggiero con moto; (b) with slight agitation.
44Lei'denschaft (Ger.) Passion, fervency, vehemence…Mit L., or lei'denschaftlich, passionately, vehemently.
46Lei'ler (Ger.) Lyre; L.kasten, hand-organ.
48Lei'se (Ger.) Low, soft, piano.
50Lei'ter (Ger., "ladder".) Scale (Ton'-leiter)…Lei'tereigen, proper or belonging to the scale…Lei'terfremd, foreign to the scale.
52Leit'motiv [-teef''] (Ger.) Leading-motive; a term brought into special prominence by Wagner's musical dramas, and applied to any striking mus. motive (theme, phrase) characteristic of or accompanying one of the persons of the drama or some particular idea, emotion, or situation in the latter; the motive recurring reminiscently at suitable stages of the action…Also used of similar motives in recent operas, oratorios, and program-music.
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