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Scan 359
An Encyclopedia of the Violin, 1925
88 lines. Read by computer on 28 September 2026. Printed page 329. See the scan on archive.org.
1from the ancient lute family (pear-shaped) with four steel strings, tuned E, A, D and G like the violin, except that it has two strings tuned in unison for each note, a fretted fingerboard and is played with a plectrum or pick.
3Marcato (It.). Marked or emphasized. Abbreviated marc.
5March. A composition primarily designed for marching purposes in either slow or fast rhythm. For military purposes a quick march is usually used; for stage productions or solemn occasions, a slow march is most effective.
7Martellato (Fr.). Hammered. Applied to a particular form of violin bowing.
9Marziale (It.). Martial, warlike.
11Massig (Ger.). Moderately.
13Matinée (Fr.). A variety of étude for the violin, the chief examples of which were left by Gavinies, who wrote an important series of twenty-four exercises with this title.
15Mazurka (Eng.). A lively Polish dance, usually in three-four time, the music of which has a peculiar and pleasing rhythm.
17Measure. The group of beats or rhythm contained between two bars, establishing a metrical unit of fixed length and regular accentuation.
19Mécanisme (Fr.). Technique.
21Mediant (Eng.). The third degree of a scale.
23Mehr (Ger.). More.
25Melancholico (It.). Sad, sadly.
27Melodic Minor. A scale containing a tone, a half tone, four tones, a half tone, as A, B, C, D, E, F sharp, G sharp, A.
29Melodieux (Fr.). Melodious.
31Melody. A pleasing succession of tones depicting some particular feeling. Used as the title of a composition in which a simple motive is prominent.
33Même (Fr.). The same.
35Menetrier (Fr.). Minstrel or rustic musician.
37Meno (It.). Less, not so much, as meno mosso meaning "less fast." Abbr. men.
39Mesure (Fr.). Measure, time.
41Metronome. A mechanical contrivance for regulating the speed at which a musical composition is played, claimed by J. N. Maelzel to have been his invention in 1816. The principle is a double pendulum with a weight at one end and a sliding piece of brass at the other, which, when moved in either direction, causes the pendulum to oscillate at varying degrees of speed.
43Metronome mark. A mark set at the head of a composition for exactly indicating its tempo in connection with a metronome.
45Mezza or mezzo (It.). Half, medium or hushed, as mezzo forte, half loud, abbreviated m f.
47Militaire (Fr.). Military.
49Minim (Fr.). A half note.
51Minor. Applied to scales or chords. The minor chord is a semitone less than the major chord. The minor mode is used to portray sorrow, sadness or kindred emotions.
53Minuet. A graceful and stately dance of French origin. In the earliest form it consisted of two eight-bar phrases each repeated.
55Misterioso (It.). Mysteriously.
57Mit (Ger.). With.
59MM. Metronome. Indicates the tempo; as MM. = 120, meaning that 120 quarter notes are to be played in one minute.
61Moderato (It.). Moderate.
63Modulate. To pass from one key or mode into another; to effect a change of key or tonality.
65Moll (Ger.). Minor.
67Molto (It.). Much or greatly.
69Morceau (Fr.). A short piece of pleasing music.
71Mordent (It.). A musical ornament resembling a portion of a trill, indicated by a short wavy line sometimes accompanied by an accidental.
73Morendo (It.). Dying away.
75Morris Dance. A kind of country dance still performed in England.
77Mosso (It.). Rapid, moved.
79Motive (Eng.). A short phrase or figure used in the development of a musical composition.
81Moto (It.). Movement or motion.
83Mouvement Perpetual (Fr.). Perpetual motion, a title sometimes given a composition where the notes throughout are of one value played at a considerable degree of speed. Paganini's "Perpetual Motion" is an excellent example in violin composition.
85Mouvement (Fr.). A principal division or section of a composition, containing themes and their development.
87Musette (Fr.). An ancient dance in triple time, formerly accompanied by bagpipes,
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