Books › Pronouncing dictionary of musical terms, giving the meaning, derivation, and pronunciation … of Italian, German, French, and other words; the names with date of birth and death and nationality of the leading musicians of the last two centuries; English vocabulary, with equivalents in Italian, Germ, 1896 › scan 114
Scan 114
Pronouncing dictionary of musical terms, giving the meaning, derivation, and pronunciation … of Italian, German, French, and other words; the names with date of birth and death and nationality of the leading musicians of the last two centuries; English vocabulary, with equivalents in Italian, Germ, 1896
90 lines. Read by computer on 24 September 2026. Printed page 110. See the scan on archive.org.
1Viola. The alto violin, generally called the tenor. The viola is slightly larger than the violin, and has four strings tuned as follows:—
3Music for it is written with the C clef on the third line.
5Viola da braccia (arm viola), Viola da gamba (leg viola), Viola da spalla (shoulder viola), Viola pomposa. Obsolete varieties of the viola family. The last was the invention of Sebastian Bach.
7Viole (Fr.). Viola.
9Viole d’amour (Fr.) (d’ah-moor), Viola d’amore (It.) (d’ah-mo-reh). A variety of the viola with wire sympathetic strings in addition to the usual gut strings.
11Violin, Violon (Fr.), Violino (It.), Fiddle, Geige (Ger.). The words “violin” and “fiddle” both come from the Latin vitula or fitula, a mediæval form of string instrument played with a bow. The violin has four strings, tuned as follows:—
13The strings are of gut, the lowest, or G string, covered with thin wire.
15Violin Clef. The G clef on the second line.
17Violina. A 4-foot organ-stop with string-like tone.
19Violino principale (It.) (prin-chee-pah’-leh). The solo violin, or leader of the violins.
21Violino ripieno. A violin part only used to fill up the tutti.
23Violoncello (It.). The “little violone.” The violoncello has four strings of gut, tuned an octave below the viola:—
25The C and G strings are covered with wire.
27Violonar (Fr.). Double bass.
29Violonaro (Fr.). See Octo Bass.
31Violone (It.). The double bass, q. v.
33Virgil Clavier. A soundless keyboard for practice.
35Virginal. A small instrument of the harpsichord family.
37Vivier, E. L. (vee-vee-eh). Horn player; Corsica. B. 1821.
39Vogl, Heinrich. Tenor; Bavaria. B. 1845.
41Vogl, Theresa (wife of H.). Soprano. B. 1846.
43Virtuoso (masc.) (It.) (vir-too-o’-so), Virtuosa (fem.) (vir-too-o’-sah). An eminent skilled singer or player. The word was formerly used in the same sense as “amateur.”
45Virtuos (Ger.), Virtuosin (fem.) (Ger.), Virtuose (Fr.). Virtuoso.
47Vista (It.). Sight. A prima vista, at first sight.
49Vistamente (It.) (vis-tah-men’-teh), Vittamente (It.) (vee-tah-men’-teh), Vive (Fr.) (veev), Vivente (It.) (vee-ven’-teh), Vivido (It.) (vee’-vee-do), Vivezza (vee-vet-za), con. Lively; briskly; with animation; vividly.
51Vivace (It.) (vee-vah’-cheh), Vivacemente (vee-vah’-cheh-men’-teh), Vivacita (vee-vah’-chee-tah), con, Vivacezza (vee-vah-chet’-zah). Lively; rapid; with animation; with vivacity.
53Vivacissimo (vee-vah-chis’-see-mo). Very lively and fast.
55Vivo (It.) (vee-vo). Alive; brisk.
57Vocal. Belonging to the voice; music meant to be sung or well designed for singing.
59Vocalion. A variety of reed organ in which the quality and power of the tone is much modified by resonators.
61Vocalise (Fr.) (vo-cal-ees), Vocalizzi (It.) (vo-cah-lit’-zee). Vocal exercises.
63Vocalization. (1) The manner of singing. (2) The singing of studies—solfeggio—to one or more vowel sounds.
65Voce (It.) (vo-cheh). The voice.
67Voice. (1) The sound produced by the human organs of speech. (2) A part in a polyphonic composition. There are three well-marked varieties of the male and female voice. Male voices are divided into bass, baritone, and tenor; the analogues in the female voice are alto, mezzo-soprano, and soprano.
69Voicing. Regulating the quality and power of the tone of organ-pipes.
71Voix (Fr.) (vo-a). Voice.
73Voix celeste (Fr.). Vox angelica.
75Volante (It.) (vo-lan’-teh). “Flying.” The rapid, light execution of a series of notes.
77Volkslied (Ger.) (folks-leed). Popular song.
79Voll (Ger.) (foll). Full.
81Volonté (Fr.) (vo-lon-teh), A volonté. At will; a piacere.
83Volta (It.). Turn. Una volta, first turn or first time.
85Vogl, J. M. Baritone. B. 1768; d. 1840.
87Volckmar, Wil. (folk’-mar). Composer, organist; Germany. B. 1812.
89Volkmann, F. R. (folk’-man). Composer; Bohemia. B. 1815; d. 1883.
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