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Scan 51
Pronouncing dictionary and condensed encyclopedia of musical terms, instruments, composers and important works, 1880
94 lines. Read by computer on 15 September 2026. Printed page 47. See the scan on archive.org.
1Mignon, opera in 4 acts, by Ambroise Thomas.
3Mills, S. B., virtuoso pianist, composer and teacher, was born at Leicester, England, March 13, 1839. Studied at Leipsic, and came to New York about 1858, where he has since held a distinguished position.
5Military Band, a brass band, or brass and wood (horns, trombones, cornets, tubas, clarinets, oboes, flutes, piccolo kettle-drum, snare-drum, and cymbal).
7Minor, smaller.
9Minor second, a diatonic semitone.
11Minor third, a third equal to three semitones.
13Minor triad, a triad with a minor third.
15Minore (Ital. mē-nō'-rē), minor.
17Minor Scale, the scale beginning with the syllable La, or the 6th of the major. See Mason's "Piano Technics," for a discussion of the M.S.
19Minnesingers, minstrels of the 12th and 13th centuries, who wandered from place to place singing a great variety of songs.
21Minstrels, wandering singers.
23Minuet, an ancient, slow and stately dance in 3-4 time, usually in two strains.
25Miserere (Lat. mē-sē-rā'-rē), "Have mercy," a psalm of supplication.
27Missa, a mass. Missal, a mass-book.
29Misterioso (Ital. mīs-tā-rī'-ō'-zō). Mysteriously.
31Misurato (Ital. mē-soo-rā'-tō). Measured, in exact time.
33Mixture, an organ stop composed of several ranks of pipes, designed to strengthen the harmonic over-tones in the klang. "Two rank" mixtures sound the 12th and 15th of the note struck. Three rank the 15th, 19th, and 22d. Modern mixtures do not contain the third of the chord (or any of its octaves, the 10th, 17th, 24th), but only octaves and fifths, and are voiced in flute quality. They impart a clear and ringing quality to the tone of the full organ.
35Moderato (Ital. mōd-ā-rā'-tō). Moderately.
37Mode, a scale or key, "Major mode," major key.
39Modesto (Ital. mō-dās'-tō). Modestly.
41Modulation, a harmonic progression out of one key into another, by means of ambiguous chords. "Modulation of voice" means control of the voice.
43Modus (Latin). A mode.
45Moins (Fr. mwā). Less.
47Molique, Bernhard (mō-leek'). An excellent violinist. Born at Nuremburg, 1802. Died 1869. Wrote concertos for violin, trios for piano, violin and 'cello, and an oratorio, "Abraham," 1860.
49Moll (Ger. mōl). Soft, i.e., minor.
51Molte (Ital. mōl'-tō). Much, very much, a great deal.
53Monochord, an instrument composed of a single string stretched over a sounding-board, along a graduated scale, for measuring musical intervals.
55Monody, a composition on one subject, generally of a sad character.
57Monteverde, Claudio, one of the greatest masters in his time. Born 1566 in Cremona. Died 1651. He wrote operas, and deserves particular honor for developing recitative.
59Montr (Fr. mōnh-trā'), "mounted," in front. Hence frequently applied to the diapason stop in an organ, because its pipes are often displayed in front.
61Morceau (Fr. mōr-sō'). A piece, a choice piece.
63Mordent (Ital. mōr-dān-tē). A transient shake or beat, formed by the principal note and the next above. See supplement.
65Moresca (Ital. mō-rēs-kā), Moorish. A morris-dance, in which bells are jingled and swords clashed.
67Morlacchi, Francesco (mōr-lāk'-kee), a successful and meritorious opera composer, born 1784, died 1841.
69Mornington, Earl of, father of the Duke of Wellington, was a composer of glees and church pieces. Born 1742 in Ireland.
71Mortier de Fontaine, born 1818 at Warsaw, the first who played Beethoven's gigantic sonata, op. 106, in public.
73Moore, Thomas, an English poet and songwriter, born in Dublin 1779. Published his Irish Melodies in 1823. Died 1852.
75Morgan, George Washbourne, the distinguished organist, living in New York, was born in England about 1827, and came to New York about twenty years ago, where for a long time he was organist of Grace Church.
77Moscheles, Ignatz, the distinguished piano virtuoso and teacher, was born at Prague in 1794. Studied with Zadrakha, and later with Dionys Weber and Clementi. He made his debut in 1815, and had famous success all over Europe. He resided in London as teacher, conductor and pianist, for some years, and joined Mendelssohn as professor of piano at the Leipsic Conservatory, in 1846, where he died in 1870.
79Moses in Egypt, an opera, or oratorio, by Rossini, 1827.
81Mosso (Ital. mōs'-sō). Movement, motion.
83Moszkowski, Moritz (mōz-kō'-skī), one of the most gifted of the younger composers, was born about 1853, and resides in Berlin, where he was pupil of Kullak, and is a clever pianist. His compositions are mainly for the piano, and are fresh, musical and melodious.
85Motette (mō-tēt'). A motet; a vocal composition, with sacred words. The line between motet and anthem is not clearly drawn.
87Motive, a musical figure or germ employed as a text. See Chaps. I. and X.
89Motion, mode of progression. Rhythmic M. is progression in notes of uniform value, or in a particular rhythmic figure, through several measures or periods. See Chaps. VII., VIII. and IX. Voice M. is similar, parallel, contrary, or oblique. Contrapuntal M. is "two against one," "three against one," "four against one."
91Mouthpiece, that part of a trumpet or brass instrument which is applied to the lips.
93Mozart, Leopold, born 1719 in Augsberg. Died 1787. He was an excellent musician, and a tasteful and talented composer, and vicekapellmeister to the Archbishop of Salzburg.
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