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Scan 22
Pronouncing dictionary and condensed encyclopedia of musical terms, instruments, composers, and important works, 1895
71 lines. Read by computer on 12 September 2026, twice; the two readings disagreed in places. No printed page number was found. See the scan on archive.org.
1Diamants de la Couronne, Les, "The Crown Diamonds," comic opera in 3 acts. Words by Scribe, music by Auber. 1841.
3Diapason (di-ă-pă'-son). Originally meant through an octave. In French it means "standard of pitch." In English, the name of the most important stop in an organ. (See Organ.)
5Diatonic, "through the tones," i.e., through the tones proper to the key without employing chromatics. Applied to scales and to melodies and harmonies.
7Dibdin, Charles, an English actor, singer, and prolific composer of popular stage pieces, among which are some 60 operas, etc. 1745-1814.
9Dictionaries of Music. The best are the large German Conversations-Lexicon of Mendel (11 vols.); "Biographie Universelle des Musiciens," by J. L. Fétis (8 vols. 8 vo.), and Grove's "Dictionary of Musicians" (2 vols. large 8 vo., Macmillan & Co., 1879-80), to which the present summary is largely indebted.
11Diesis, a very small interval, about an eighth of a tone. Its ratio is 125-128. It occurs between two tones, one of which is tuned a perfect octave to a given bass, and the other three perfect major thirds above the same bass.
13Dies Iræ (dē-āz ē-rā). "Day of Wrath," a celebrated old Latin hymn, which is the second number in the Mass for the Dead.
15Dilettante (Ital. deel-a-tănt'-a, from deli-tare, to love). One who feels an especial interest in an art without making it his principal business. Also used in an unfavorable sense, of one who pretends to a considerable knowledge of an art which he has never learned.
17Diminished Intervals, those derived from minor or perfect intervals by chromatic diminution; e.g., perfect fifth, C G; diminished fifth, C Gb.
19Diminution, a term used in counterpoint to denote the repetition of a subject in notes of less value, as halves by quarters, etc.
21Diminuendo (Ital. dim-in-oo-ăn'-dō). Diminishing in power.
23Dinorah (dee'-nŏ-ră). The Italian title of Meyerbeer's opera, otherwise known as "Le Pardon de Plaermel," in 3 acts. 1859.
25Direct, a mark formerly used at the end of a page in music to warn the player of the first note over the leaf.
27Direct Motion, motion of parts in harmony in similar direction.
29Dis (Ger.) D sharp.
31Discant, originally the counterpoint sung with a plain song. Thence the upper voice in part music. In earlier English, air.
33Discord, the inharmonious relation of sounds. D. depends on the want of common measure between the two sets of vibrations producing the discord. D. and dissonance are often used as synonymous, but not properly. The latter is a discord properly introduced and resolved.
35Dissonance, a discord. A combination of notes which on sounding together produce beats. (See Discord.)
37Dissoluto Punito, Il Ossia il Don Giovanni. Full title of Mozart's famous opera now known by the last part of its name. See Don Giovanni.
39Dittersdorf, Karl Ditters von, a distinguished violinist and prolific composer of operas, popular in their day, and an intimate friend of Glück and Haydn. Born at Vienna, 1739. Died 1799.
41Divertimento (Ital. dee-văr-tee-măn'-tō). Divertissement. A name given by Mozart to 22 suits of pieces, ranging from 4 to 10 movements each, for strings, wind and strings, and various chamber combinations.
43Divertissement (Fr.) The same as the preceding. Applied to a kind of short ballet; also to potpourris.
45Divise (Fr. dĕ-vee'-sā). Divided. Used in scores where the 1st violins or soprani are divided into an upper and lower part.
47D Major, a key containing the tones D, E, F sharp, G, A, B, C sharp, D.
49D Minor, a key containing the tones D, E, F, G, A, Bb, C sharp, D. The relative minor of F major.
51Do (dō). The syllable applied to the first tone of the scale in sol-faing.
53Doctor of Music, the highest honorary degree in music. The candidate at Oxford or Cambridge must pass an examination in Harmony, Eight-part Counterpoint, canon and imitation in eight-parts, Fugue, Form, Instrumentation, Musical History, a critical knowledge of the scores of the standard works of the great composers, and so much of the science of Acoustics as relates to the theory of Harmony. An "Exercise" is required in advance, which may be sacred or secular, in good eight-part fugal counterpoint, with accompaniments for full orchestra, of such length as to occupy from 40 to 60 minutes in performance. After passing the previous examination the candidate must have his composition publicly performed with orchestra and chorus in Oxford or Cambridge at his own expense, and deposit the MS full score in the library of the Music School. The fees amount to about £20.
55Dohler, Theodor (dūh'-lĕr), of a Jewish family, born at Naples 1814. Died at Florence 1856. An accomplished pianist and composer of salon music. one of two readings
56Dohler, Theodor (dū'-lĕr), of a Jewish family, born at Naples 1814. Died at Florence 1856. An accomplished pianist and composer of salon music. one of two readings
58Doigte (Fr. doig'-tā, doigter, to finger). Fingered; i.e., the proper finger-application marked.
60Doering, Karl Heinrich (dū'-ring), an eminent composer and pianist of the present time. Born 1834 at Dresden. D. is author of pieces in various departments; piano pieces, masses, songs, and articles about music.
62Dolby, see Sainton-Dolby.
64Dolce (Ital. dōl'-chĕ). Sweetly. Also the name of an extremely soft 8 ft. string-toned organ stop.
66Dolcissimo (Ital. dōl'-chees'-ĭ-mō). Superlative of the preceding.
68Dolente (Ital. dō-lăn'-tĕ, also dolentamente, dolentissimo, con dolore, con duolo, all of which mean substantially the same thing). In a plaintive, sorrowful style; with sadness.
70Doloroso (Ital. dō-lor-ō'-sō). Grievingly.
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