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Scan 46
Grove's Dictionary of music and musicians, 1927
18 lines. Read by computer on 5 September 2026. Printed page 4. See the scan on archive.org.
1A group of three, four or more notes is abbreviated by the repetition of the cross strokes without the notes as many times as the group has to be repeated (Ex. 5); or the notes forming the group are written as a chord, with the necessary number of strokes across the stem (Ex. 6).
3In this case the word simili or segue is added, to show that the order of notes in the first group (which must be written out in full) is to be repeated, and to prevent the possibility of mistaking the effect intended for that indicated in Ex. 1 and 2.
5Another sign of abbreviation of a group consists of an oblique line with two dots, one on each side (Ex. 7); this serves to indicate the repetition of a group of any number of notes of any length. The repetition of a whole bar is indicated thus:
7and of a passage of not more than two bars,
9Another method of abbreviating the repetition of a passage of the length of the above is to write over it the word bis (twice), or in some cases ter (three times), or to enclose it between the dots of an ordinary repeat.
11Passages intended to be played in octaves are often written as single notes with the words con ottave or con 8ve placed above or below them, according as the upper or lower octave is to be added (Ex. 10). The word 8va (or sometimes 8va alta or 8va bassa) written above a passage does not add octaves, but merely transposes the passage an octave higher or lower:
13so also in clarinet music the word chalumeau has been used to signify that the passage is to be played an octave lower than written (Ex. 11). All these alterations, which can scarcely be considered abbreviations except that they spare the use of ledger-lines, are counteracted, and the passage restored to its usual position, by the use of the word loco, or in clarinet music by clarinette.
15In orchestral music it often happens that certain of the instruments play in unison; when this is the case the parts are sometimes not all written in the score, but the lines belonging to one or more of the instruments are left blank, and the words col violini or col basso, etc., are added, to indicate that the instruments in question have to play in unison with the violins or bass, as the case may be, or when two instruments of the same kind, such as first and second violins, have to play in unison, the word unisono or col primo is placed instead of the notes in the line belonging to the second. Where two parts are written on one staff in a score, e.g. 1st and 2nd flutes, the sign 'a 2' denotes that they play in unison; and 'a 1,' or solo, that the second is resting; 'a 2,' however, in the viola part indicates the presence of two real parts, taking the place of divisi or div., used for a similar effect in the case of the other bowed instruments. Further duplication of string parts is indicated by a 3 or a 4, unisono or unis, denoting its cessation.
17An abbreviation which is often very troublesome to the conductor occurs in manuscript scores, when a considerable part of the composition is repeated without alteration, and the corresponding number of bars are left vacant, with the remark come sopra (as above). This is not met with in printed scores, and as music-printing improves, there is a growing tendency
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