music dictionary : Tc - Te
 



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tcabbreviation of tragicommedia (Italian f.), tragicomedia (Spanish f.)
t.c.abbreviation of tre corde (Italian: three strings - a mark in piano music indicating the release of the soft, or una corde pedal), 'tenor clef' (suggested by Daniel Magnus Bennét Björck)
Tchardacheczardas
Tchécoslovaquie(French f.) Czechoslovakia
Tchèque(French m./f.) Czech
tchèque(French) Czech
Tchikhulusee madawewe
Tchindzomanasmall drum from Mozambique
Tchinkounmey(Benin) funeral music
T.D.abbreviation of 'tenor drum', Teachta Dála (Irish: a member of the Irish Parliament)
T.Dr.abbreviation of 'tenor drum'
td(s)abbreviation of tonadilla(s) (Spanish)
Tein solfeggio, te is the syllable indicating the lowered seventh degree of the major scale; in 'fixed do' solfeggio, te is always the note 'B flat'
(French) or t', you, yourself
Teachta Dála(Irish) or T.D., a member of the Irish Parliament or Dáil (Dála is the genitive case of Dáil)
te acompaño a la puerta(Spanish) I'll see you out, I'll show you out
te agradezco tu apoyo(Spanish) I'm grateful for your support
Teaka tall evergreen tree (Tectona grandis) of southeast Asia, having hard, heavy, durable yellowish-brown wood; the wood from that tree
Teakholz(German n.) teak
Teakjong(Korean) a big gong which is suspended from a wooden frame. It is struck with a kaktoe made of cow horns called su
Tealany of a large group of small, short-necked, fresh-water ducks
Team(English, German n.) a group of people, animals, etc. working to a common purpose
Tea Meetingcommon on the island of Saint Kitts and Nevis, it features a pair of male singers, one competing against the other, in which hecklers play an important role
¿te animas a venir al cine?(Spanish) do you fancy coming to the cinema?
¿te apetece tomar un paseo?(Spanish) do you fancy going for a walk?
¿te apetece una copa?(Spanish) do you fancy a drink? do you feel like a drink?
Tearful, Tearfullypiangendo (Italian), traurig (German), triste (French)
te aseguro que...(Spanish) I assure you that...
teatral(Spanish) theatrical (person, gesture, tone)
teatrale(Italian) theatrical (person, gesture, tone)
Teatralidad(Spanish f.) drama, sense of the theatre
¿te atreves a hacerlo?(Spanish) do you dare to do it? dare you do it?
Teatro(Italian m., Spanish m.) theatre (the art, the activity and the specialised place in which theatrical pieces are designed to be performed)
Teatro al aire libre(Spanish m.) open-air theatre
Teatro de guiñol(Spanish m.) puppet theatre
Teatro dell'opera(Italian m.) opera house
Teatro de variedades(Spanish m.) music-hall (place where the entertainment known as musical hall takes place), variety theatre, vaudeville (US)
Teatro di gran cartello(Italian m.) lyric theatre of the first rank
Teatro diurno(Italian m.) a lyric theatre in which performances take place by day
Teatro musical(Spanish m.) musical theatre
¿te ayudo?(Spanish) do you need any help?
Tebala Saharawi drum of about 60 centimeters in diameter, made of a dug out wooden bowl and leather from the skin of a camel or goat. It is played with the hands, almost exclusively by women, producing a dry and deep sound at the same time
Techor 'techie', in the theatre, a general slang term for a member of the technical crew of a show
or 'technical rehearsal', a rehearsal primarily for the purpose of practicing the technical elements of a play, such as lights and sound
Tech hardcoresee 'mathcore'
Tech housea fusion of house and techno music
  • Tech house from which this short extract has been taken
Techiesee 'tech'
Tech metalsee 'math metal'
Technical accuracythe ability to play or sing with the appropriate timbre, intonation, diction, with correct pitches and rhythms
Technical drawingsa number of museums and collections make available technical drawings of their instruments
Technical rehearsala rehearsal primarily for the purpose of practicing the technical elements of a play, such as lights and sound
Technicien (m.), Technicienne (f.)(French) technician
Techniek(Dutch) technique
Technik(German f.) technique, technical term(s), technology
Techniker(German m.) technician
Technique(English, French f.) the ancient conception of art is not foreign to us, but it appears today under other names: craft, skill, or technique. The Greek name for art was techne and as a matter of fact our term "technique" suits the ancient idea of art better than our term "art", which is now used as an abbreviation of fine arts
"The most perfect technique is that which is not noticed at all." Pablo Casals Spanish cellist & composer
technique(French) technical
Technique des doigts(French f.) finger technique, finger dexterity
Technique des échanges modaux(French f.) mixed modes technique
techniquement(French) technically
Technique numérique(French f.) digital technique
Technique vocale(French f.) vocal technique
technisch(German) technical (including proficiency in the execution of a performance), technically, technological, technologically
technische Hochschule(German f.) a technical university, a technical college
technische Störung(German f.) a technical fault
Techno(English, German m.) machine-generated 'dance music'
Technoidan electronic music subgenre that takes its inspiration from IDM, experimental techno and noise music
  • Technoid from which this extract has been taken
Technologie(French f., German f.) technology
technologique(French) technological
technologisch(German) technological
Technopopsee 'electropop'
Techstepa major subgenre of drum and bass, characterized by a dark, sci-fi mood, near-exclusive use of synthesised or sampled sound sources, and influences from industrial and techno music at the forefront. Techstep is sometimes confused with neurofunk, a derivative of techstep which places more emphasis on atmosphere and borrows influence from funk music
  • Techstep from which this extract has been taken
Teck(French m.) teak
Teckel(German m.) a dachshund
Tecla(Spanish f.) touch, touche (French)
Tecladista(Spanish m./f.) keyboard-player
Teclado(Portuguese m., Spanish m.) keyboard, clavier (French)
Tecnica(Italian f.) technique
Técnica(Portuguese f., Spanish f.) technique
Tecnica della dita(Italian) finger dexterity
Tecnica della respirazione(Italian f.) breath control
Tecnica digitale(Italian f.) digital techniques
Técnicas extendidas(Spanish f. pl.) extended techniques
Tecnica vocale(Italian f.) vocal techniques
Técnico(Spanish m.) technician
técnico(Spanish) technical
Tecnico del suono(Italian) a sound engineer
Tecnologia(Spanish f.) technology
tecnológico(Spanish) technological
TeD abbreviation of Te Deum (Latin)
Teddeo(Italian) Te Deum
Teddybär(German m.) a teddy bear
Tedesca(Italian f.) or todesca, in the late 16th-century, a type of villanella that mocked the accent of Germans speaking Italian
tedesco (m.), tedesca (f.)(Italian, literally 'German') used in the sense of German fashion, manner or style, for example, alla tedesca means 'in the German manner'
Te Deum (laudamus)(English, German n., Latin, from 'We praise Thee, (O God)') a lengthy hymn or canticle in praise of God in the Roman Catholic, Anglican, and other Christian liturgies, also called the Ambrosian hymn although the attribution to St. Ambrose is doubtful
Tedéum(Spanish m.) Te Deum (laudamus)
Ted Ross beamingdifferent publishing houses use different standards for beaming. One of the most common is that proposed by Ted Ross in The Art of Music Engraving and Processing (Hansen Books, 1970)
Tee(German m.) tea
Teebeutel(German m.) a tea-bag
Teekanne(German f.) a teapot
Teekessel(German m.) kettle
Teelöffel(German m.) a teaspoon
Teema(Finnish) motive, motif, fragment of thematic material
Teen popa form of pop music that is light and dancey, made for and often by teenagers
  • Teen pop from which this extract has been taken
Teer(German m.) tar
teeren(German) to tar
Teesieb(German n.) a tea-strainer
Teetasse(German f.) a teacup
Teetersee 'lap organ'
Teewagen(German m.) a (tea) trolley
TefTurkish frame drum
tegenbeweging(Dutch) contrary motion
Tegengestelde(Dutch) antithesis
Tegenmelodie(Dutch) counter melody
Teich(German m.) a pond
Teig(German m.) pastry, dough (for bread, etc.), mixture, batter
Teigrolle(German f.) rolling-pin
Teigroller(German m.) rolling-pin
Teigwaren(German f. pl.) pasta
Teil (s.), Teile (pl.)(German m.) or Theil (plural Theile), part, portion, section, movement (part of a larger work), volume (of a set of volumes), division(s) of the bar (measure), component part(s) (of a movement or piece), party (someone involved in an action)
der vordere Teil (German: the front part)
Teil(German n.) spare part, a unit
teilbar(German) divisible
Teilchen(German n.) particle
Teilekatalog(German m.) parts catalogue
teilen(German) or theilen, to divide, to share out, to partition (territory), to share
Teile sind untereinander austauschbar, die(German) the parts are interchangeable
teilhaben(German) to share
Teilhaber(German m.) a partner (in business)
Teilnahme(German f.) participation, interest, sympathy
teilnahmslos(German) apathetic, apathetically
teilnehmen an(German) to take part in, to share in
Teilnehmer (m.), Teilnehmerin (f.)(German) participant, competitor
Teilnummer(German f.) part number
Teilpunkt(German m.) split point
teils(German) partly
Teilstrich(German m.) graduation mark
Teilton (s.), Tieltöne (pl.)(German m.) partial, overtone, harmonic, harmonique (French m.)
Teilung(German f.) division, partition
teilwise(German) partial, partly, partially, in some cases
Teilzahlung(German f.) part-payment, instalment
Teilzeitbeschäftigung(German f.) a part-time job
tein(German) ten
teindre(French) to dye
Teint(French m., German m.) complexion
Teinte(French f.) a shade, a tint
une teinte de (French: a tinge of) (figurative)
teinté(French) gebeizt (German), tinto (Italian), stained, coloured
teinter(French) to tint (paper, glass, etc.), to stain (wood)
Teinture(French f.) dyeing, dye (the product)
Teinturerie(French f.) a dry-cleaner's
Teinturier (m.), Teinturière (f.)(French) a dry-cleaner
Teja(Spanish f.) tile
Teja de arcilla(Spanish f.) clay tile
Tejado(Spanish m.) roof
Tejano(Spanish, literally 'Texan') or 'Tex-Mex music', a South Texas creation which uses guitars and accordions to blend Mexican musical styles with European polkas and waltzes and that is heavily influenced by honky tonk. It is distinguished by rhythmic, very danceable melodies, and lyrics more upbeat than those of the more melancholic honky tonk
Tejedor(Spanish m.) weaver
Tejemaneje(Spanish m.) fuss (familiar), scheming (intrigue)
tejer(Spanish) to weave, to knit, to crochet
Tejido (s.), Tejidos (pl.)(Spanish m.) fabric, material, knitting, crochet, tissue (also figurative), textiles (plural form)
Tejido adiposo(Spanish m.) adipose tissue
tejido a mano(Spanish) hand-woven
Tejidos sintéticos(Spanish m.pl.) synthetic fabrics
Tejoletas(Spanish f.pl.) two wooden sticks that are held by the fingers and slapped against each other, like castanets
Tejón(Spanish m.) badger
Teken(Dutch) sign
Tekerö(Hungarian) hurdy-gurdy, that was mentioned and illustrated for the first time in Hungary during the kuruc era (17th century). The resonance box has a string for the tune and two for accompaniment. The strings are sounded by rotating a resinated wooden disc. On the outside of the box a system of wooden keys serve to communicate stoppings, which were completed with a chromatic row of keys. These keys are used to depress the melodic string. The hurdy-gurdy is still played in dances along with melodic instruments (violin, clarinet) in the Szentes and Csongrád regions
Tekés (s.), Tekédes (pl.)(probably from the Turkish tekke, literally 'a dervish lodge') a small shop where hashish was smoked and the rebetika were sung
Teknivals(the word is a portmanteau of the words tekno and festival) illegal free parties which take place in locations across Europe every summer
  • Teknival from which this extract has been taken
Tekst(Dutch) text
Teksthaak(Dutch) brace
Tekstschrijver voor liederen(Dutch) lyricist
Tel(Dutch) beat
tel (m.), telle (f.)(French) such
un tel livre (French: such a book)
Tela(Spanish f.) material, (spider's) web, skin (on a liquid)
Telaesthasia(Pseudo-Greek) the perception of objects at a distance other than by the recognized channels of sense
Telaio(Italian m.) frame
Telar (s.), Telares (pl.)(Spanish f.) loom, textile mill (plural frorm)
Telaraña(Spanish f.) spider's web, cobweb
Tele(Spanish f.) television (familiar)
Télé(French f.) TV (abbreviation for television) (familiar)
Telecomando(Italian m.) remote control
Télécommande(French f.) remote control
Télécommunications(French f.pl.) telecommunications
Telecomunicación(Spanish f.) telecommunication
Télécopie(French f.) (tele)fax (the paper message)
Télécopieur(French m.) fax machine
Telediario(Spanish m.) television news
teledirigido(Spanish) remote-controlled
Telefax(German n.) a fax
Teleférico(Spanish m.) cable-car, cable-railway
Telefilmalso 'telepic', 'telepix', a feature-length motion picture made for TV
Téléfilm(French m.) (tele)film
Telefon(German n.) a telephone, a phone
Telefonabrechnung(German f.) telephone bill, phone bill
Telefonanruf(German m.) a telephone call
Telefonat(German n.) a telephone call
Telefonbuch(German n.) telephone book, phone book
telefonear(Spanish) to telephone
Telefon Hírmondó or Telefonhírmondó, a telephone newspaper in Budapest. It was the longest-running telephone newspaper
Telefonía móvil(Spanish f.) or telefonía celular (Spanish f.), mobile telephony
telefónico(Spanish) telephone
telefonieren(German) to telephone, to phone
telefonisch(German) telephone, by telephone
Telefonist (m.), Telefonistin (f.)(German) telephonist
Telefonista(Spanish m./f.) telephonist
Telefonkarte(German f.) a phone card
Telefonnummer(German f.) telephone number, phone number
Teléfono(Spanish m.) telephone
Teléfono móvil(Spanish m.) mobile phone
Telefonzelle(German f.) telephone box, phone box
Telegraf(German m.) telegraph
Telegrafenmast(German m.) telephone pole
Telegrafía(Spanish f.) telegraphy
telegrafiar(Spanish) to telegraph
telegráfico(Spanish) telegraphic
telegrafieren(German) to send a telegram
telegrafisch(German) telegraphic, by telegram
Telégrafo(Spanish m.) telegraph
Telegrama(Spanish m.) telegram
Telegramm(German n.) a telegram
Télégramme(French m.) telegram
Telegraph(German m.) telegraph
Télégraphe(French m.) telegraph
télégraphier (à)(French) to telegraph (to), to cable (to)
télégraphique(French) telegraphic, telegraph
téléguidé(French) radio-controlled
téléguider(French) to control by radio
Telekinesis(Pseudo-Greek) the movement of objects at a distance but without contact with the motive agent
Telemachiathe first four books of The Odyssey are together called the Telemachia because they focus on the problems Telemachus faces while waiting for his father Odysseus to return home
Télématique(French) computer communications
TelennBreton harp
Telenovela(Spanish f.) television soap opera
Teleobjektiv(German n.) telephoto lens
Teleobjetivo(Spanish m.) telephoto lens
Télépathe(French m./f.) a psychic
télépathe(French) psychic
Telepathie(German f.) telepathy
Télépathie(French f.) telepathy
Telepatía(Spanish f.) telepathy
telepático(Spanish) telepathic
Téléphérique(French m.) a cable-car
Telephon(German n.) telephone
Téléphone(French m.) telephone, phone
téléphoner à(French) to telephone, to phone, to call
Téléphone rouge(French m.) a hot line
téléphoner pour(French) to phone about
téléphonique(French) telephonic
Téléphoniste(French m./f.) telephone operator
Telephotea telelectric apparatus for producing images of visible objects at a distance
Telepicsee 'telefilm'
Telepixsee 'telefilm'
Télescope(French m.) telescope
télescoper(French) to crash into
telescópico(Spanish) telescopic
Telescopio(Spanish m.) telescope
télescopique(French) telescopic
Télésiege(French m.) chair-lift
Telesilla(Spanish m.) ski-lift, chair-lift
Telesilla of Argos(in Greek, Τελέσιλλα) Greek woman warrior poet and musician who rallied the women of the besieged city of Argos with war hymns and chants and led them in defending the city against the invading forces of Cleomenes. The Argives, in order to honour her, set up her statue depicting her putting on her helmet while her books lie on the ground at her side
Téléski(French m.) ski-tow
Teleskop(German n.) a telescope
teleskopisch(German) telescopic
Telespectador(Spanish m.) viewer
Téléspectateur (m.), Téléspectatrice (f.)(French) television viewer
Telesquí(Spanish m.) ski-lift
Telesticha poem in which the last letters of successive lines form a word, phrase, or consecutive letters of the alphabet
Télévente(French f.) telesales
Televitwo small gourds filled with seeds and attached to each end of a string from Ghana
Televidente(Spanish m./f.) viewer
televisar(Spanish) to televise
télévisée, émissionsee émission télévisée
Téléviseur(French m.) television set
Télévision(French f.) television
Televisión(Spanish f.) television
Télévision(French f.) television
Televisione(Italian f.) television
Televisor(Spanish m.) television (set)
Telex(German n.) telex
Télex(French m., Spanish m.) telex
telexen(German) to telex, to send a telex
télexer(French) to send a telex, to telex
Telharmoniuman early electromechanical instrument, the 'Telharmonium' or 'Teleharmonium' (also known as the 'Dynamophone'), was developed in 1897 by Thaddeus Cahill, lawyer, engineer and entrepreneur. The 'Telharmonium', described in a patent entitled 'Art of and Apparatus for Generating and Distributing Music Electronically', was part of a system where the music was broadcast via telephone lines to restaurants, hotels, and private homes. The sound of the world's first synthesiser was to be listened to using telephone receivers. Today's internet radio is the fulfilment of Cahill's dream
Telle est mon opinion sur(French) That's my view of
tellement(French) so much, so
tellement de(French) so much (quantity), so many (number)
tellen (werkwoord)(Dutch) to count (bars, beats, lines, pages)
Tellen per maat(Dutch) beats per measure
Teller(German m.) plate (dinner, side, etc.), plate (of a cymbal)
Tellern(German m. pl.) clashed cymbals
Telltalea movable piece of ivory, lead, or other material that indicates, by its position, the amount of air left in the air chamber
Telmányisee 'Bach bow'
¡te lo advierto!(Spanish) I'm warning you!
te lo agradezco en el alma(Spanish) I can't tell you how grateful I am
te lo aseguro(Spanish) I assure you
Telón(Spanish m.) (theatre) curtain
Telón de acero(Spanish m.) Iron Curtain
Telón de fondo(Spanish m.) backdrop (stage), background (figurative)
Telone(Italian m.) (theatre) curtain
telonero (m.), telonera (f.)(Spanish) first on stage, support (band)
tel ou tel(French) such-and-such
Tel père, tel fils.(French) Like father, like son.
Telpherageor cable car system, a transportation system in which passengers or goods are carried in containers (or telphers) suspended from cables
tel que(French) such as, (just) as
tel quel(French) (just) as it is
Tel qui rit vendredi dimanche pleurera.(French) Laugh on Friday, cry on Sunday.
Teltikken(Dutch) pulse
Telyn deires(Welsh) triple harp
tem.abbreviation of tempo
Tema(Italian m., Portuguese, Spanish m.) topic, subject, theme (for example, the subject of a set of theme and variations), matter (theme)
(Italian m.) essay (literary composition), report (on a theme), soundtrack (music), theme song
(Italian m.) (in music) idea, motive, motif, fragment of thematic material
Tema con variazioni(Italian m.) theme and variations
Tema de actualidad(Spanish m.) topical subject
Tema di una canzone(Italian m.) or motivo ricorrente (Italian m.), recurring theme of a song
Tema e varianti(Italian m.) theme and variations
Tema musical(Spanish m.) theme song, musical theme
Tema musicale(Italian m.) theme song, musical theme
Tema principale(Italian m.) principal subject
Temario(Spanish m.) programme, agenda
Temática(Spanish f.) subject matter
temático (m.), temática (f.)(Spanish) thematic, of or relating to the stem of a word (linguistics)
Tembang Sunda(Sunda, Indonesia) sung poetry, an aristocratic pastime that developed in the 19th century. It is accompanied by zithers and bamboo flute. Typically a suite of tembang Sunda songs begins with several recitative-like songs in free rhythm, and concludes with a metrical piece, imitative of gamelan
temblar(Spanish) to tremble, to shake, to shiver, to quiver, to shake with fear (figurative), to dread (figurative), to shudder (figurative)
Tembleque(Spanish m.) shaking fit (familiar)
(Spanish m.) in flamenco, rapidly alternating heelwork, executed without body movement, that produces a trembling sound
temblón, temblona(Spanish) trembling (familiar), shaky (familiar)
Temblor(Spanish m.) tremor, shudder, shaking, trembling, shivering
Temblor de tierra(Spanish m.) earthquake
tembloroso (m.), temblorosa (f.)(Spanish) shaking, quivering (voice), shivering, trembling
Temenos (from Greek, 'to cut')in Classical Greek culture, a sacred area marked off as holy ground
temer(Spanish) to be afraid (of)
téméraire(French) rash (unwise, foolhardy)
temerario(Spanish) reckless
temere(Italian) to be afraid, to be afraid of, to apprehend, to be scared, to be frightened, to fear
Témérité(French f.) rashness
temeroso(Spanish) frightened
temerse(Spanish) to be afraid
temible(Spanish) fearsome
Temir chang(Afghanistan) metal Jew's harp, also called chang or chang ko'uz
Temir komuzKyrgyz metal Jew's harp
Témoignage(French m.) testimony, evidence, account
the term is more specifically applied to a factual account, by an eye-witness or participant in an important event, that is undistorted by prejudice
témoignage de(French) token of
témoigner(French) to testify, to show
témoigner de(French) to testify to
témoigner que(French) to testify that
Témoin(French m.) a witness, (sports) a baton
Témoin oculaire(French m.) an eye-witness
Temor(Spanish m.) fear
temp.abbreviation of tempo (Italian: time), tempore (Latin: in the time of), temporary
Témpano(Spanish m.) floe
Temp. Bl.abbreviation of 'temple blocks'
Tempe(French f.) temple (forehead)
Tempel(German m.) temple
Tempelblock(German m.) temple block
Tempelglocke(German f.) temple bell
Tempera(Italian, from Latin temperare, literally 'to mix in due proportion') a method of painting in which the pigments are mixed with an emulsion of water and egg yolks or whole eggs (sometimes glue or milk). Tempera was widely used in Italian art in the 14th and 15th centuries, both for panel painting and fresco, then being replaced by oil paint. Tempera colors are bright and translucent, though because the paint dried very quickly there is little time to blend them, graduated tones being created by adding lighter or darker dots or lines of color to an area of dried paint. This technique was also used to apply decoration to the sound boards of early keyboard instruments
temperado(Spanish) tempered, tempéré (French)
Temperament(English, German n.) a person's characteristic style of behaving, thinking, and feeling. For example, in the domain of social interaction temperament may range from extremely sociable to extremely shy and inhibited
Temperamenttemperamento (Italian m., Spanish m.), Temperatur (German f.), tempérament (French m.), a tuning is laid out with nothing but pure intervals, leaving the Pythagorean or ditonic comma to fall as it must. A temperament involves deliberately mistuning some intervals to obtain a distribution of the comma that will lead to a more useful result in a given context
solutions can be grouped into three main classes:
tuningsPythagorean, just intonation
regular temperamentswhere all fifths, except the wolf fifth, are tempered the same way
irregular temperamentswhere the quality of the fifths around the circle changes, generally so as to make the more common keys more consonant
temperaments are further classified:
circulating or closedif they allow unlimited modulation, i.e. enharmonics are usable (equal temperament, most irregular temperaments)
non-circulating or openif they do not allow unlimited modulation (tunings, most regular temperaments)
the choice of a particular solution depends on many factors:
the needs of the music (harmonic vs melodic, modulations)
the tastes of the musicians and listeners
the instrument to be tuned (organ vs harpsichord - tuning the former is much more work so one needs a more convenient solution)
aesthetic (Gothic's tense thirds and pure fifths vs the stable, pure thirds of the Renaissance and Baroque)
theoretical considerations
ease of tuning (equal temperament is one of the more difficult)
Tempérament(French m.) temperament, constitution (physique)
à tempérament (French: on hire-purchase, on an instalment plan)
temperamental(of a person) unreliable, moody
(of a machine) unreliable, unpredictable
Tempérament de Vallotti(French m.) Valotti temperament
Tempérament égal(French m.) equal temperament
Tempérament égal à quintes justes(French m.) a temperament created by Serge Cordier in which all the fifths are pure, and therefore the octave is wide (in fact 2.003875 rather than 2)
Tempérament inégal (s.), Tempéraments inégaux (pl.)(French m.) non-equal temperament(s), including those of Werckmeister (1691), Chaumont (1695), Rameau (1726), d'Alembert (1752), Corrette (1753), Marpourg (1756), Silbermann, Kirnberger, Kellner, Valotti, Young, etc.
temperamentlos(German) dull
Tempérament mésotonique (s.), Tempéraments mésotoniques (pl.)(French m.) meantone temperament
Temperamento(Spanish m., Italian m.) temperament, tempérament (French m.)
Temperamento comune(Italian m.) 'standard' 1/4 syntonic comma meantone temperament (so called in the 17th and 18th centuries)
Temperamento desigual(Spanish m.) non-equal temperament, tempérament inégal (French)
Temperamento equabile(Italian m.) equal temperament
Temperamento igual(Spanish m.) equal temperament, tempérament égal (French)
Temperamento medio(Spanish m.) meantone temperament
Temperamento mesotonico(Italian m.) meantone temperament
Temperamento pitagorico(Italian m.) Pythagorean temperament
Temperament UnitTU notation is a logarithmic system similar to that of 'cents', but designed to be easier to understand and use when working with divisions of the commas. A TU is defined as 1/720th of the interval of a Pythagorean comma; so that, -720 TU must be distributed among the twelve fifths in a 'circle of fifths' to remove the comma. Other benefits include the fact that the other important comma (syntonic comma) is close 660 TU, and the difference between the two commas (the 'schisma') is almost exactly 60. All three are divisible by 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 12, divisors commonly used to describe most temperaments. Indded, most temperaments can be described in TUs using only integer values. There are 36828.6282 TU in an octave
temperamentvoll(German) vivacious, spirited (horse)
temperando(Italian) moderating, mäßigend (German), en modérant (French)
Temperatur(German f., Swedish, Danish) temperament, temperature
Temperatura(Spanish f.) temperature
la temperatura baja a 10 grados bajo cero (Spanish: the temperature is 10 degrees below zero)
la temperatura esta a mas de 40º (Spanish: the temperature is over 40º, or more colloquially, it's over 40º)
la temperatura esta bajando (Spanish: the temperature is falling, temperature is dropping)
la temperatura esta muy baja (Spanish: the temperature is very low)
Temperatura ambiente(Spanish f.) room temperature
Temperature (and tuning)string, percussion and wind instruments and tuning forks are pitch-sensitive to changes in temperature. As temperature rises, wind instruments become progressively sharper (due to the change in the speed of sound in air) while string and percussion instruments become progressively flatter (due to thermal expansion). Dr David Knight, conservation assistant, Council for the Care of Churches, in his MOTs for Organs writes "An organ without reed stops (such as Trumpet, Oboe, Clarinet, Tuba) will usually stay in tune for at least a year: reed stops, however, need more frequent tuning because they react to temperature changes in a different way from the remainder of the instrument and may need tuning twice, and occasionally more than twice more than twice, each year. As the pitch of an organ is particularly sensitive to temperature change, tuning in the winter should only be carried out when the building has reached the temperature at which the organ would normally be used." For tuning forks the primary source of the dependence of the tuning fork is caused by a temperature dependence in the Young's modulus of the material out of which it is made. The stiffness of the fork changes slightly with temperature causing a change in the resonant frequency of the tuning fork
Température(French f.) temperature
Temperatuur(Dutch) temperament
tempéré(French) tempered (adjusted), temperate (climate)
Tempered harmonymusic performed with a non-just intonation
tempérer(French) to temper
Temperie(Spanish f.) weather
Tempestad(Spanish f.) storm
tempestosamente(Italian) tempestuously, furiously
tempestoso(Italian) tempestuous, furious, stormy, passionate, boisterous
tempestuoso(Spanish) stormy
Tempestuous, Tempestuouslystormy, passionate, boisterous, furious, tempestuoso (Italian), stürmisch (German), orageux (French m.), orageuse (French f.)
Tempête(French f.) a storm
a storm scene found in many French baroque stage works. The tempestuous music associated with such scenes, often including tremolos and rapid passage work, was sometimes imitated in characteristic movements of overture-suites
(French f.) a boisterous dance in 2/4 time
Tempête de neige(French f.) a snowstorm
tempêter(French) to rage (to cry out)
Temple(French m.) a temple, a (Protestant) church
in flamenco, the vocal warm-up at the beginning of a song, consisting of repeated ayes, which enables the singer both to tune to the guitar and to absorb the mood and rhythm of the song
Temple-bloc(French) temple block
Temple block(s)Korean temple blocks, Chinese temple blocks, blocci di legno (coreano) (Italian)
the temple block originates in the east. Its design is one of simplicity although some temple blocks are ornately carved in the shape of impressive animals. The block itself is a carved chamber made generally from camphor wood. Sizes can vary dramatically from around an inch up to several feet in diameter. Modern temple blocks generally are in sets of five and are tuned randomly high to low. Many contemporary composers use temple blocks and they are as popular today as they were in the 1920s when many early jazz players used them as an effective addition to their standard kit
Templarsorder of military monks founded in 1119 to assist in the Crusades; also known as the Knights Templar or the Poor Knights of Christ
Tempo (s.), Tempi (pl.)the pace or speed of speech and also the degree to which individual sounds are fully articulated or blurred together. The faster the tempo, the more likely sounds will blur or elide
(English, Italian m., French m., German n.) beat, time, measure (in the sense of duration)
(Italian m., German n., English) speed (for example, the speed or pace of the musical pulse)
(Italian m., French m.) in 15th-century dance, one full division of time within a ballo, in which case one tempo equals one 'measure'
(Italian m.) in 15th-century dance, the term could also refer to the number of specialized steps to be completed in a section of a balli, thus, 'sixteen tempi of saltarelli' would mean 16 saltarello steps
a quick guide to modern Italian tempo markings expressed as beats per minute:
tempi veloci, quicker tempi
prestissimoabove 200 bpm
presto144 - 200 bpm
vivacissimoabove 170 bpm
vivace/vivo126 - 170 bpm
allegro120 - 150 bpm
tempi intermedi, moderate tempi
allegretto108 - 120 bpm
moderato80 - 105 bpm
andantinomay be quicker or slower than andante
andante60 - 90 bpm
tempi lenti, slower tempi
adagio55 - 76 bpm
lento52 - 65 bpm
larghetto60 - 65 bpm
largo45 - 60 bpm
grave40 - 45 bpm
Tempo!(German) hurry up!
Tempo aanduiding(Dutch) tempo indication, the speed at which a composition is to be performed
Tempo alla breve(Italian m.) 2/1 or 2/2 time (sometime marked with just a single 2), the notes being only half their usual duration
[corrected by Lars Hellvig]
see tempo di cappella
Tempo alla cappellasynonymous with tempo alla breve
Tempo alla semibreve(Italian m.) synonymous with tempo ordinario
Tempoangaben(German f. pl.) tempo markings, tempo indications
Tempo anteriore(Italian m.) former speed
tempo aussi rapide que possible(French) as fast as possible
Tempo balordo(Italian) nasty weather
Tempo beschleunigen(German) increasing the speed
Tempobeteckning(Swedish) tempo indication, the speed at which a composition is to be performed
Tempobetegelse(Danish) tempo indication, the speed at which a composition is to be performed
Tempobezeichnung(German f.) tempo indication, the speed at which a composition is to be performed
Tempo binario(Italian m.) duple meter
Tempo commodo(Italian) at a speed, usually moderate, to suit the player
Tempo comodo(Italian) at a speed, usually moderate, to suit the player
Tempo composto (in due movimenti)(Italian) compound time (for example, 6/8)
Tempo composto (in tre movimenti)(Italian) compound time (for example, 9/8)
Tempo composto (in quattro movimenti)(Italian) compound time (for example, 12/8)
Tempo debole(Italian m.) weak beat, unaccented part of the bar
Tempo del comincio(Italian) in the same tempo as at the beginning (of the piece) (similar to tempo primo) [entry suggested by John Worrall]
Tempo deux fois plus lent(French m.) half-time
tempo di ballo(Italian m.) dance speed, in dance time, rather quick
tempo di bolero(Italian) in the time of a bolero
Tempo di borea(Italian m.) bourrée
Tempo di cappella(Italian) synonymous with tempo alla breve, such a piece having two light beats
Tempo di gavotta(Italian) in the time of a gavotte
Hotteterre (1719) tells us that the Italians use the alla breve sign (C with a vertical line through it) for tempo di gavotta
tempo di marcia(Italian) in the time of a march
Tempo di menuetto(Italian m.) minuet speed
Tempo di minuetto(Italian m.) minuet speed
tempo di Polacca(Italian) in the time of a polonaise
tempo di prima parte(Italian) in the time of the first part
tempo di sarabanda(Italian) in the time of a sarabande
tempo di valse(Italian) in waltz time
Tempo double(French m.) double time
Tempo fisso(Italian m.) fixed speed
Tempo forte(Italian m.) strong beat, the accented part of the bar
tempo frettevole(Italian) in quicker time, hurrying, hastily
tempo frettoloso(Italian) in quicker time, hurrying, hastily
Tempo giusto(Italian m.) the speed the style demands, the appropriate tempo, strict time
as well as specifying the choice of an appropriate tempo, the term may also indicate a 'measured performance', that is one that follows closely the notes as written, and the proportions that the notation indicates
Tempo maggiore(Italian m.) alla breve
Tempo markor 'tempo marking', a word, phrase or some other indication as to the speed at which a piece should be performed
tempo markings are traditionally given in Italian - common markings include:
basic speed in terms of slow
gravesolemn; very, very slow
largamenteslow
largobroad; very slow
larghettoslow
adagissimorather slow
adagioslow, tranquil
adagiettoslow
andantinoslow
lentoslow
andantea walking pace
basic speed in terms of fast
moderatomoderate
allegrettoquite fast
allegramentequite fast
allegrofast; cheerful
vivacelively
prestovery fast
accelerating, getting faster
accelerandogetting faster
stringendoswiftly accelerating usually with an increase in volume (i.e. crescendo)
affrettandoswiftly accelerating usually with an increase in volume (i.e. crescendo)
incalzandoswiftly accelerating usually with an increase in volume (i.e. crescendo)
doppio movimentotwice as fast
più affrettatoswifter
più mossoa new steady rate of speed, but faster than the preceding section
più motoa new steady rate of speed, but faster than the preceding section
velocea new steady rate of speed, but faster than the preceding section
decelerating, getting slower
rallentandogradually getting slower
ritardandogradually getting slower
allargandogradually getting slower
tardandogradually getting slower
slentandogradually getting slower
strascinandogradually getting slower
ritenutoa new steady rate of speed, but slower than the preceding section
meno mossoa new steady rate of speed, but slower than the preceding section
meno motoa new steady rate of speed, but slower than the preceding section
calandogrowing slower as well as softer
deficiendogrowing slower as well as softer
mancandogrowing slower as well as softer
morendogrowing slower as well as softer
sminuendogrowing slower as well as softer
smorzandogrowing slower as well as softer
returning to original speed
a tempoin time; returning to the original pace
Tempo markingsee 'tempo mark'
Tempomerkintä(Finnish) tempo indication, the speed at which a composition is to be performed
Tempo minore(Italian m.) tempo ordinario
Tempo modulationsee 'metric modulation'
Tempo moyen(French m.) medium tempo
Tempo ordinario(Italian) standard or moderate time, neither too fast nor too slow
(Italian) the term is applied specifically to 4/4 or 'common time' (sometimes shown with a C as the time signture)
may be used to mean tempo primo
tempo perduto(Italian) interrupted or irregular time
Tempo precedente(Italian m.) previous tempo
Tempo primiero(Italian m.) or tempo I°, the first tempo
(Italian m.) or tempo I°, the original tempo
Tempo primo(Italian m.) or tempo I°, the first tempo, at the original tempo, in German Tempo wie voher
Temporada(Spanish f.) season (a period of time)
temporaire(French) temporary
temporairement(French) temporarily
Temporalwhen applied in music, this term means parameters such as beat, rhythm, and meter, those having to do with time
in grammatical and linguistic discussion, related to time. Temporal aspects of speech, for example, are such things as how fast a person produces syllables and how long her pauses are
the annual cycle of church feasts commemorating the life of Christ
temporal(Spanish) temporary
Temporal maskingtemporal masking occurs when a sudden stimulus sound makes inaudible other sounds which are present immediately preceding or following the stimulus. Masking that obscures a sound immediately preceding the masker is called backwards masking or pre-masking and masking that obscures a sound immediately following the masker is called forwards masking or post-masking. Temporal masking's effectiveness attenuates exponentially from the onset and offset of the masker, with the onset attenuation lasting approximately 10 ms and the offset attenuation lasting approximately 50 ms.
Tempo rapide(French m.) up tempo
Tempore(Latin) or temp, in the time of ... (followed by the name usually of a reigning monarch)
this term is used when through a lack of precise evidence, the dating can be only rough
Tempo reggiato(Italian m.) the time to be accommodated to that of the solo singer or player, colla parte
temporel (m.), temporelle (f.)(French) temporal (as opposed to spiritual)
temporiser(French) to play for time
Tempo rubato(Italian m., rubato, literally 'robbed') freedom to make small changes in tempo during the progress of the piece to enhance its musical effect, irregular tempo. The effect is produced by lengthening, or dwelling upon, some notes of a phrase, and shortening, or hastening, others, the deflection from the strict time being thus counter-balanced
Tempo sans pulsation reguliere(French m.) free tempo, tempo rubato
Tempo semplice (in due movimenti)(Italian m.) duple time (for example, 2/4)
Tempo semplice (in quattro movimenti)(Italian m.) quadruple time (for example, 4/4)
Tempo ternario(Italian m.) ternary or triple meter (for example, 3/4)
Tempo wie vorher(German m.) the speed as before, tempo primo
temp. prim.abbreviation of tempo primo
Temps(French m.) a time, a beat, a tense (grammar), a stage, the weather
Temps astronomique(French m.) mean time, astronomical time
Temps atomique(French m.) atomic time
Temps binaire(French m.) duple meter
Temps commode(French m.) tempo comodo, convenient speed
Temps composé(French m.) (grammar) compound verb tense
Temps d'accès(French m.) access time (computers)
Temps d'antenne(French m.) airtime
Temps d'arrêt(French m.) pause, halt
Temps de chien(French m.) filthy weather
Temps de cuisson(French m.) cooking time
Temps de guerre(French m.) wartime
Temps de l'ange(French m.) in dance, a movement that resembles a soubresaut poisson, but where the knees are bent
Temps de paix(French m.) peacetime
Temps de parole(French m.) air time
Temps de pose(French m.) (photography) or exposition (French f.), exposure time
Temps de réaction(French m.) reaction time
Temps de réponse(French m.) response time
Temps dérobé(French m.) an keyboard effect, also called rubato in the 18th-century, where the left hand plays slightly earlier than the right. Nowadays, the technique is called 'dislocation' or 'limping'
Temps de saignement(French m.) (medicine) bleeding time (a crude medical test of hemostasis, the arrest or stopping of bleeding. It indicates how well platelets interact with blood vessel walls to form blood clots)
Temps de valsewaltz time
Temps différé(French m.) (computers) batch mode
Temps faible(French m.) arsis, weak beat, unaccented part of the bar, low point
Temps fort(French m.) strong beat, usually the first beat of the bar
Temps frappé(French m.) down-beat, strong beat, accented beat
Temps levé(French m.) up-beat, unaccented part of the bar
in ballet, a hop on one foot with the raised foot in any required position
Temps libre(French m.) spare time
Temps lié(French m.) in dance, a sequence of movements connected together smoothly
Temps lié sur les pointes(French m.) in dance, connected movement on the points
Temps littéraire(French m.) (grammar) literary verb tense
Temps mort(French m.) stoppage, injury time (sport), lull, slack period
Temps partagé(French m.) (computers) time-sharing
Temps premier(French m.) original speed, tempo primo
Temps juste(French m.) appropriate speed, tempo giusto
Temps mort(French m. pl.) dull moments, slack periods, longueurs in a work of music or literature
Temps perdu(French m.) periods in the past that are no longer remembered
Temps sidéral(French m.) sidereal time
Temps simple(French m.) (grammar) simple verb tense
Temps solaire vrai(French m.) apparent solar time, real solar time
Temps surcomposé(French m.) (grammar) double-compound tense
Temps ternaires(French m.) triple meter
Temps universel(French m.) universal time
Temptation motif
a motif in which one of the protagonist's primary struggles is the conflict between his or her sense of personal honour and ethics and his or her personal desires, ambitions, or wickedness, in particular:
concupiscentia carnisphysical temptations of the flesh such as gluttony, drunkenness, and illicit sexuality
concupiscentia oculoramental temptations for imagined material possessions, power or wealth
superbia vitaepride concerning life, the desire humans have to be more than what God created humans to be
Faustian bargaintemptation motif in which an individual sells his or her soul to the devil
Tempuku(Japan) an end-blown flute held vertically, the player directing the breath across the edge of the mouth hole. It comes originally from Kagoshima prefecture but it is rarely used today
  • Tempuku from which this information has been taken
Tempuraa Japanese dish of fried foods in a light batter (actually of Portuguese origin)
Tempus
(Latin) in old mensurable music tempus was the time value of the brevis such that in:
tempus perfectumthe semibreve is divided into three semibreves
tempus imperfectumthe semibreve is divided into two semibreves
Tempus imperfectum(Latin, literally 'imperfect time') binary division of breves into semibreves (i.e. 2 semibreves = 1 breve)
Tempus imperfectum diminutum(Latin) note values half those for tempus imperfectum, i.e. twice the speed; alla breve
Tempus perfectum(Latin, literally 'perfect time') ternary division of breves into semibreves (i.e. 3 semibreves = 1 breve)
Tempus ternarium(Latin) ternary time
ten.abbreviation of tenuto (Italian: hold), tenore (Italian: tenor) or 'tenor'
tenace(French) stubborn
Ténacité(French f.) stubbornness
Tenaille(s)(French f.) pincers
Tenancier (m.), Tenancière (f.)(French) keeper
Tenant(French m.) supporter, holder (of a title)
Ten-cent magazinea type of picture magazine that appeared in 1890s United States of America as a result of the fall in the cost of printing and photo reproductive methods
Tencha European fresh-water fish of the carp family
Tendance(French f.) tendency, leanings (opinions), trend
Tendency notea tendency note, or tendency tone, is a note that is a semitone (half-step) away from another note. The note is also dependent, that is, it usually forms a dissonance with another note, and therefore, needs to resolve to a note a semitone (half-step) away. The 4th and 7th degrees of the scale in major keys are tendency notes, since whenever they appear, they have a 'tendency' to move respectively to the 3rd and 8th degree of the scale. Any note can become a tendency note by chromatic alteration, so, for example, although the 4th degree of the scale usually moves to 3rd degree, the sharpened 4th degree tends to move to the 5th degree
Tendency tonesee 'tendency note'
Tendentialin grammar, tendential refers to action that has been attempted but remains incomplete, especially interrupted action. This situation is only of minor concern in English grammar, but it is important in Greek and other languages
Tendenz(German f.) tendency, trend
tendere(Italian) to tighten, to stretch
Tenderlygently, caringly, lovingly, amorevole (Italian), con tenerezza (Italian), zärtlich (German), tendrement (French)
tenderse a la bartola(Spanish) to take it easy
Tendeurs(French pl.) (tuning-)adjusters (devices attached to the tailpiece of string instruments which allow finer control of the tuning of individual strings than is generally possible using the pegs)
tendieren (zu)(German) to tend (towards)
Tendoku(Japanese) chant style involving a shortened reading of the Buddhist sutras
Ten.Dr.abbreviation of 'tenor drum'
tendre(French) amorevole (Italian), amoroso (Italian, Spanish), lovingly, tenderly, gently, fondly, affectionately, liebevoll (German), doux (French)
(French) tender feeling, sentimental affection (towards some person)
(French) to tighten, to stretch, to set (a trap), to stretch out (arm), to hold out (hand), to crane (neck), to hang (tapestries)
"In painting it means certain extremely delicate brushstrokes. It is in this sense that one says there are "extremely tender strokes" in a painting." - Dictionnaire de l'Académie Françoise (1762)
tendrá unos ... años o por ahí(Spanish) he must be ... or thereabouts (age in years)
tendre à(French) to tend to
tendre l'oreille(French) to prick up one's ears
tendrement(French) tenderly, delicately, lovingly, tenderly, gently, affectionately, fondly, amorosamente (Italian), amorevolmente (Italian), con affetto (Italian), affettuoso (Italian), affetto (Italian), affettuosamente (Italian), in liebevolle Weise (German), in herzlicher Weise (German), affectueusement (French)
"This adverb written at the top of an air means a mouvement [tempo] that is lent and doux, sounds that are filé, gracieusement, and that is animated by a tender and touching expressiveness. Italians use the word amoroso to express roughly the same thing. The character of an amoroso involves more stresses and conveys a je ne sais quoi that is less bland and more passionate." - Rousseau (1768)
Tendresse(French f.) tenderness, fondness, affection
¿tendría la amabilidad de cerrar la puerta?(Spanish) would you be so kind as to close the door?
tendu(French) tight (cord), tense (person, situation), outstretched (hand)
Tenebrae(Latin, literally 'darkness') a name given to the Roman Catholic service of matins and lauds of the following day, sung on the evenings of Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of Holy Week
Ténèbres(French f. pl.) darkness
ténèbreux (m.), ténèbreuse (f.)(French) dark
tenebroso(Italian) gloomy, dark mood
tenendo(Italian) holding, sustaining
tenendo il canto(Italian) sustain the melody
tener a ... en ascuas(Spanish) to keep ... on tenterhooks (somebody)
tener agarraderos(Spanish) to have influence (Latin America)
tener agujetas(Spanish) to be stiff
tener alma de niño(Spanish) to be a child at heart
teneramente(Italian) tenderly, delicately, softly
tener anginas(Spanish) to have tonsillitis
tener apego(Spanish) to be fond of
tener aptitud para(Spanish) to have a flair for
tener aptitud para los idiomas(Spanish) to have a flair for languages
tener arcadas(Spanish) to retch
tener argolla(Spanish - Central America) to have contacts (colloquial)
tener bemoles(Spanish) to be difficult
tener carraspera(Spanish) to have a frog in one's throat
tener cartel(Spanish) to be a hit, to be successful
tener don de gentes(Spanish) to have a way with people
tener don de lenguas(Spanish) to have a gift for languages
tenere il broncio a(Italian) to have a grudge against
tenere ... in bilico(Italian) to keep ... in suspense (somebody)
Tenerezza(Italian) tenderness, softness, delicacy
tener la antena puesta(Spanish) to have one's ears pricked up
tenerle apego a ...(Spanish) to be attached to ... (something, somebody)
tener mucho rostro(Spanish) to have a lot of nerve (familiar)
tener muchos bemoles(Spanish) to be difficult
tenero(Italian) tender, soft, delicate, tenderly, softly, delicately
teneroso(Italian) tenderly, delicately, softly
tener pata(Spanish - Latin America) to have contacts (familiar)
tener un accidente(Spanish) to have an accident
tener un accidente laboral(Spanish) to have an industrial accident
Tenet(Latin, literally 'he holds') a doctrine, principle or opinion held by a person, party or sect
tenete(Italian) hold, sustain
tenete sino alla fine del suono(Italian) keep down the keys for as long as the sound continues
Teneur(French f.) content
tenez votre droite(French) keep to the right
tenez votre gauche(French) keep to the left
tenga la amabilidad de esperar aquí(Spanish) would you mind waiting here?
tenga usted la amabilidad de esperar(Spanish) would you be so kind as to wait?
tengo agujetass en las piernas(Spanish) my legs are stiff
tengo ... años(Spanish) I'm ... (years old)
tengo la absoluta certeza(Spanish) I am absolutely convinced
tengo las manos agarrotadas(Spanish) my hands are stiff
tengo mucho sueño atrasado(Spanish) I have a lot of sleep to catch up on
tengo problemas con el arranque(Spanish) I have problems starting the car
tengo trabajo atrasado(Spanish) I'm behind with my work
tengo unas agujetas insoportables en los brazos(Spanish) my arms are so stiff
teniamos libertad plena para(Spanish) to have a free hand in the matter
tenir(French) to hold (a violin bow, etc.), to keep, to take up (place), to utter (a proposal), to play (a role)
tenir à(French) to be attached to (person, thing, etc.), to cherish (person, memory, etc.), to insist on (doing, acting, etc.), to hold someone to, to be anxious to
tenir à ce que(French) to be anxious that
tenir à faire(French) to be anxious to do
tenir à l'écart(French) to keep out of things (person)
tenir bon(French) to stand firm, to hold one's ground
tenir chaud(French) to keep warm
tenir compagnie à(French) to keep company
tenir compte de(French) to take into account, to keep in mind
tenir dans(French) to fit into
tenir de ...(French) to have got from ..., to take after ..., to resemble ...
tenir debout(French) to hold water (figuratively)
tenir en bride(French) to keep in check
tenir le bon bout(French) to be on the right track
tenir le coup(French) to hold out, to make it through
tenir pour(French) to regard as
tenir propre(French) to keep clean
tenir tête à(French) to stand up to
tenir toujours sa parole(French) to always keep one's word
Tenkan(Japanese) the tube worn on the middle finger of the left hand by the player of zithers such as the yakumogoto
Tennis(French m., German n.) tennis
(French m.) tennis-court, sneakers (soft tennis shoes)
Tennis de table(French m.) table-tennis
Tennisplatz(German m.) a tennis-court
Tennisschläger(German m.) a tennis-racket
Tenona projection at the end of a piece of wood that is shaped to fit into a mortise and form a mortise joint, or fitted into a socket
Tenon sawa backsaw (a handsaw that is stiffened by metal reinforcement along the upper edge), a small thin saw with a strong back, used especially for cutting tenons
Tenorin common usage, tenor refers to the course of thought, meaning or emotion in anything written or spoken. Among rhetoricians, however, the word tenor more specifically refers to the subject of a metaphor
(English, Spanish m., Danish, Swedish, Dutch, German m.) tenore (Italian), Tenor (German), ténor (French), the highest normal male voice
the tenor voice may be subdivided according to the tessitura and timbre and its suitability for various operatic roles:
Englandlyrical tenor, dramatic tenor
GermanyHeldentenor, Wagnerheldentenor, lyrischer Tenor, Spieltenor, hoher Tenor
Italytenore, tenore leggiero, tenore spinto, tenore di forza, tenore di grazia, tenor-boffo,tenore robusto
Franceténor, ténor-bouffe, Trial
from medieval musical compositions in which the part carrying the main melody line (originally plainchant) was called the tenor (from the Latin tenere 'to hold), other voices typically serving as accompaniments to the tenor
a prefix to instruments whose size places them between the bass instruments which are lower and the alto instruments that are higher, for example, tenor saxophone, tenor violin
the largest bell in a peal of bells
Ténor(French m.) tenor
Tenoraa tenor folk oboe or shawm
Tenor altinosee tenore contraltino
Tenor banjo(English, Tenorbanjo (German n.)) a four string banjo, used for example, in old-time music
Tenorbariton(German m.) or Heldentenor, full dramatic tenor
Tenor basssee 'bass guitar'
Tenor bassoontenor member of the bassoon family
Tenor bellEnglish term for the largest bell in a 'ring' of bells used for change ringing. American founders in the 19th-century borrowed the term to denote the largest bell in a chime, now called the bourdon
Tenorblockflöte(German f.) tenor recorder
Tenor Cin Helmholtz notation, small c, the C between the second and third line (counting up) of the bass clef, one octave below middle C
the lowest C in the tenor voice, the lowest string of the viola
Tenor cleftenor clef, chiave di tenore (Italian f.), Tenorschlüssel (German m.), clé de ténor (French f.), clef de ténor (French f.), clé d'ut 4e (French f.), clef d'ut 4e (French f.), clave de do en cuarta (Spanish f.), clave de tenor (Spanish f.)
tenor C clef
a 'so-called' C clef
Tenor contraltinosee tenore contraltino
Tenor cormellophones made by Besson and Rudall Carte, largely obsolete brass instrument in F and with valves, similar to the French horn but with a more conical bore and mouthpiece
Tenor cornetto(Italian m.) see cornetto
Ténor dramatique(French m.) Heldentenor
Tenor drumsimilar to the side or standard snare drum but larger and, in Britain, without snares. However, elsewhere, the drum is expected usually to have snares
Tenore(Italian m.) a tenor voice, part or singer
Tenore buffo(Italian m.) a tenor (usually the seond tenor in an opera company) who sings comic parts
Tenore contraltino(Italian m.) a specialized form of the tenor voice found in Italian opera around the beginning of the 19th century, mainly in the Rossini repertoire, which rapidly evolved into the modern 'Romantic' tenor. It is sometimes referred to as tenor altino (or contraltino) in English books
Tenore di forza(Italian m.) a term used to describe a tenor with the sheer lung power required to raise the roof in such heavy Italian roles as Manrico, Calaf and particularly in Otello
Tenore di grazia(Italian m., literally 'tenor of grace') a tenor with the grace, agility, and style, required for Mozart, Rossini, and lighter Donizetti roles
Tenore drammatico(Italian m.) heroic tenor, Helden-Tenor
Tenore eroico(Italian m.) heroic tenor, Helden-Tenor
Tenore leggiero(Italian m.) lyric tenor, a light, sweet tenor voice
Tenore lirico(Italian m.) lyric tenor
Tenore robusto(Italian m.) a full, powerful tenor voice
Tenores(Sardinia, Italy) rural polyphonic chant, sung with four vocal parts: bassu (bass), mesa boghe (middle), contra (counter) and boghe (leader and soloist)
Tenore-trombone(Italian) tenor trombone
Tenorfagott(German n.) a bassoon a fifth higher than the standard bassoon
Tenorflöte(German f.) tenor flute (usually in B flat), tenor recorder
Tenorgeige(German f.) viola (or tenor violin, which is a member of the violin family that lies between the viola and the violoncello)
Tenor guitarfour-string guitar tuned like a tenor banjo, for use by early jazz players as they made the transition from the (acoustically-loud) banjo to the (acoustically- or electronically-loud) guitar
there are a number of tunings (from low to high) used on the tenor guitar:
original tuningCGDAalso called 'viola-' or 'mandola-tuning'
quasi-guitar tuningDGBEthe top four strings of a guitar
violin tuningGDAEone octave below the violin or mandolin
Ténor héroïque(French m.) Heldentenor
Tenor horn(English, Tenorhorn (German n.)) the invention of the valve mechanism for brass instruments at the beginning of the 19th-century resulted in a number of unusual instruments including several models of tenor flugelhorn in E flat, One particular instrument with an unusual figure 8 form was only heard in the 1840s in the military bands of south-western Germany and Austria
the modern form of the E flat alto saxhorn
in the UK, a brass instrument pitched in E flat that has a conical bore (gradually widening) and normally uses a deep, cornet-like mouthpiece. It is most commonly used in marching bands, brass bands and similar ensembles
in the US and Germany, 'tenor horn' usually denotes the 'baritone horn', a bass 'Saxhorn' in B flat, which is at trombone/trumpet pitch
Tenorhorn(German n.) tenor horn although the term sometimes denotes the 'baritone horn'
Mahler's specification of a Tenorhorn in the scoring of his 7th Symphony has often caused confusion. In Britain, the name 'Tenor Horn' is often given to the instrument that in the US is called the Alto Horn (in Eb or F); in Germany this (a contralto saxhorn) is known as the Althorn in Eb or F, and is not the instrument requested by Mahler. Nor does Mahler intend a Euphonium, which in German is called either Euphonium or Baryton. The German Tenorhorn is actually a Bb baritone-pitch saxhorn - the instrument known in Britain and the USA as the 'baritone'
Tenori(Finnish) tenor
Tenori acuti(Latin, Italian m. pl.) high tenors (i.e. male altos)
Tenorino(Italian m., literally 'little tenor') a term, sometimes used rather disparagingly, to describe a tenor with a very small voice
Tenorio(Spanish m.) Don Juan, lady-killer, Casanova
Tenorista tenor singer
Tenorlied(German n.) German polyphonic song form popular in the 15th- and 16th-centuries that consisted of a tenor line, which had the melody (usually pre-composed or a cantus firmus), and one or more additional lines as contrapuntal accompaniment
Ténor lyrique(French m.) lyric tenor
Tenor massthe most common of the 'so called' cantus-firmus masses, where the cantus firmus was placed in the tenor line
Tenormandoline(German f.) tenor mandolin, mandola, mandora
Tenor mandolasee 'mandolin, mandoline'
Tenor oboeor taille de hautbois, the tenor member of the oboe family was played in the oboe band, where its function was to fill in the harmonies
Tenoroontenor bassoon
on the various unusual sizes of Fagott : the Quintfagott is a fifth higher as the bassoon is, so an instrument "in c" with as the lowest note an F. The Quartfagott is, an instrument in b-flat going down to G, a fourth above the bassoon. Confusing can be that also a Quintbassfagott and a Quartbassfagott did exist, a fifth and a fourth lower than the regular bassoon. And then we had the Tenoroon or Octavfagott or Fagottino, one octave above the bassoon, and the Contrafagott one octave below
[information taken from the Contrabass-list 2 Jan 1998 Vol 1 No. 80]
an organ stop which resembles the tenoroon only in compass, the pipes being of the double open diapason species, on the manuals, and terminating at tenor C, the notes in the octave below this note being omitted
Tenorposaune(German f.) tenor trombone
Tenorsaxofon (German n.) tenor saxophone, saxofón tenor (Spanish m.), sassofono tenore (Italian m.), Tenorsaxophon (German n.), saxophone ténor (French m.)
Tenorsaxophon (German n.) tenor saxophone, saxofón tenor (Spanish m.), sassofono tenore (Italian m.), Tenorsaxofon (German n.), saxophone ténor (French m.)
Tenor saxophonesaxofón tenor (Spanish m.), sassofono tenore (Italian m.), Tenorsaxophon (German n.), saxophone ténor (French m.)
a member of the saxophone family that lies between the alto (higher) and the baritone (lower)
Tenorschlüssel(German m.) tenor clef
Tenorstimme(German f.) tenor voice
Tenor trombonetrombone tenore (Italian), Tenor-Posaune (German), taille-trombone (French), tenor member of the trombone family and the most commonly used
Tenor-trommel(German f.) tenor drum
Tenor tubasee 'Wagner tuba'
Tenor violthe tenor viola da gamba, the tenor member of the viol family
Tenor-viole(German) a term applied sometimes to the viola and to the tenor violin
Tenor violintenor member of the violin family, today largely unknown. although the term is has been also applied to the viola
Tenorzeichen(German n.) tenor clef
tensado (m.), tensada (f.)(Spanish) taut, tautened, tense
tensar(Spanish) to tauten, to draw (a bow)
Tense vowelany vowel made with the tongue muscles relatively more tense than in a lax vowel. These tense vowels tend to be less central and pronounced higher in the oral cavity than lax vowels. Examples include the vowels [i], [e], [u], and [o]
Tensilea term applied to all stringed instruments when considering the overall tension generated by their strings
Tensile pick-upthe increase in tensile strength that wire strings gain when they are drawn through successively smaller dies. This results in thinner strings have a tensile strength greater than would be expected from their reduced diameter
Tensile strengthmeasures the force required to pull something such as rope, wire, or a structural beam to the point where it breaks. Specifically, the tensile strength of a material is the maximum amount of tensile stress that it can be subjected to before failure. The definition of failure can vary according to material type and design methodology. This is an important concept in engineering, especially in the fields of material science, mechanical engineering and structural engineering
there are three typical definitions of tensile strength:
yield strengththe stress a material can withstand without permanent deformation
ultimate strengththe maximum stress a material can withstand
breaking strengththe stress coordinate on the stress-strain curve at the point of rupture
Tension(English, French f.) in common usage, tension refers to a sense of heightened involvement, uncertainty, and interest an audience experiences as the climax of the action approaches
Tensión(Spanish f.) tension, stress, pressure, tension (voltage), voltage, tenseness, strain (personal), anxiety
Tension des cordes(French f.) string tension (which on a grand piano would be between 12 and 15 tonnes)
Tensión arterial(Spanish f.) blood pressure
alta tensión arterial (Spanish: high blood pressure), baja tensión arterial (Spanish: low blood pressure)
Tensione(Italian f.) tension
Tensión nerviosa(Spanish f.) nervous strain
Tensoa stylized, poetic debate between troubadours or trouvères in which the participants argue opposing views on a given topic, usually politics, religion, morality, literature or love
tenso (m.), tensa (f.)(Spanish) tense, taut, tense (person), strained (relations)
tensor(Spanish) tensile
Ten string mandolinesee 'mandolin, mandoline'
Tenthan interval comprising an octave and a third, also called decima or double tierce
Tentación(Spanish f.) temptation
Tentacule(French m.) a tentacule
tentador (m.), tentadora (f.)(Spanish) tempting, enticing
tentar(Spanish) to feel, to touch, to tempt, to entice, to attract, to appeal
Tentation(French f.) temptation
Tentativa(Spanish f.) attempt, try
Tentativa de asesinato(Spanish f.) attempted murder
Tentative(French f.) an attempt
Tente(French f.) a tent
tenté de(French) tempted to
Tentempé(Spanish m.) snack, food
tenter(French) to try, to tempt
tenter de faire(French) to try to do
tenter le coup(French) to have a go, to try one's luck
Tento(Portuguese, literally 'touch') see tiento
Tentpolea movie expected by a studio to be its biggest grossing blockbuster of the season, usually released in the summer. Often the picture is the start of, or an installment in, a franchise (colloquial)
Tenture(French f.) (wall-)hanging
Tentures(French f. pl.) drapery
tenu (m.), tenue (f.)(French) held, held on
tenu de(French) obliged to
ténu(French) fine (hair, thread), tenuous (connection)
Tenue(French f.) dress (clothes), clothes, upkeep (of a house), (good) behaviour, posture
(French f.) in music, a holding note, a pedal note
tenue(French) in string playing, letting a finger continue to rest on a vibrating stopped string after lifting the bow, in order that the note rings on. This technique is often used in chordal or arpeggiated passages
(Spanish) thin, light, flimsy, thin, subdued (light, sound), faint (light, sound)
Tenue de soirée(French f.) evening dress, formal dress
Tenue de soirée de rigueur(French f.) black tie (formal dress for a man)
Tenue de ville(French f.) town dress, city clothes
Tenuis (s.), Tenues (pl.)(Latin, literally 'thin') in linguistics, one of the voiceless stops, k, p, t
tenute(Italian) held on, sustained, kept down (a key)
tenuto (m.), tenuta (f.)(Italian) held, held on, fermata (the pause sign)
(Italian) legato
see 'tenuto mark'
Tenuto mark
tenuto a short horizontal line over the notehead
a tenuto mark can mean either hold the note in question its full length (or longer, with slight rubato) or else play the note slightly louder. In other words, the tenuto mark is sometimes interpreted as an articulation mark and sometimes interpreted as a dynamic mark. When it appears in conjunction with an accent mark, it is of course taken as an indication of articulation, and, conversely, when it appears in conjunction with a staccato mark, it is taken as an indication of a slight dynamic accent. When it appears by itself, its meaning must be determined by its musical context
  • Tenuto from which some of this information has been taken
Teodia(Italian) a song in praise of the Deity
Teorbansee torban
Téorbe(French) theorbo
teoretico(Italian) theoretical
Teoria(Italian f.) theory
Teoría(Spanish f.) theory
Teoría acústica(Spanish f.) acoustic theory, theory of acoustics
Teoria degli affetti(Spanish f.) theory of emotions
see 'affections, doctrine of'
Teoría de la música(Spanish f.) music theory
Teoria del canto(Italian f.) the theory or art of singing
Teoria dos conjuntos(Portuguese f.) set theory
Teoría musicale(Spanish f.) music theory
Teórica(Spanish f.) theory, theoretics
Teórico (m.), Teórica (f.)(Spanish) theorist, theoretician
teórico (m.), teórica (f.)(Spanish) theoretic, theoretical, hypothetical
teorizar(Spanish) to theorise on, to theorise
tepidamente(Italian) coldly, with indifference, showing little emotion, unimpassioned
Tepidarium(Latin) the warm room of a Roman bath, as opposed to the hot (caldarium) or cold (frigidarium) room
tepido(Italian) unimpassioned, lukewarm
Tepidità(Italian f.) coldness, indifference, lukewarmness
Teponaztlithe teponaztli has deep cultural and spiritual meaning for many Mexican communities. Its name means 'wooden drum' in Nahuatl. In other dialects, it is known as tunkul, quiringua or teponagua. Made from a section of a hollowed hardwood tree trunk (or occasionally from small gourds which also serve as resonators), these instruments characteristically have an elongated H-shaped incision along the top. This cut in the wood forms two vibrating tongues or "keys" ; these have distinct pitches either because they are different lengths or they have been chiseled on the underside to different thicknesses. Sometimes, a rectangular opening is carved in the bottom of the drum to increase its volume. Many of these instruments are decorated with lotus or other symbolic designs, and some are carved in the shapes of alligators
Teppich(German m.) a carpet
Teppichboden(German m.) a fitted carpet
Tequila(Spanish f.) a fermented drink made in Mexico from the sap of the plant Agave americana
Ter(Latin) thrice, three times
Teranaa six beat to the bar (measure) dance
Terapeuta(Spanish m./f.) therapist
Terapéutica(Spanish f.) therapeutics, therapy
terapéutico (m.), terapéutica (f.)(Spanish) therapeutic
Terapia(Spanish f.) therapy
Terapia criollaan Afro-Colombian music style and dance from Cartagena, on the Caribbean coast, it is a combination of indigenous rhythms, Caribbean beats and African influences, with satirical lyrics, also known as champeta criolla
terävästi(Finnish) staccato
Terça(Portuguese) third (interval)
Terce(Latin) the fourth service of the Divine Office, usually performed at 9:00 a.m, consisting of several responsories and psalms which are sung
tercer(Spanish) third
Tercera(Spanish f.) the interval of a third, tierce (French)
(Spanish f.) third class
Tercera aumentada(Spanish f.) augmented third
Tercera de picardía(Spanish f.) Picardy third, tierce picarde (French), tierce de Picardie (French)
Tercera disminuída(Spanish f.) diminished third, tierce diminuée (French)
Tercera inversión(Spanish f.) third inversion (of a chord)
Tercera ligada(Spanish f.) tierce coulée
Tercera major(Catalan f.) major third
Tercera mayor(Spanish f.) major third
Tercera menor(Spanish f.) minor third
Tercera persona del singular(Spanish f.) third person singular
Tercera picarda(Spanish f.) Picardy third
Tercer movimiento(Spanish m.) third movement
tercermundista(Spanish) third-world
Tercero (m.), Tercera (f.)(Spanish) third (in a series)
tercero (m.), tercera (f.)(Spanish) third
Tercet(French) triplet
composed of three lines of poetry, forming a stanza or a complete poem, a poetic triplet is a tercet in which all three lines follow the same rhyme, i.e. AAA. An enclosed tercet follows the rhyme scheme ABA. If the tercet forms a stanza by itself, it is often called a triplet
Terceto(Spanish) tercet (verse), trio (musical)
terciar(Spanish) to divide into three, to place diagonally, to place crosswise, to mediate, to arbitrate
terciar en el debate(Spanish) to take part in the debate
terciario (m.), terciaria (f.)(Spanish) tertiary
terco (m.), terca (f.)(Spanish) stubborn, obstinate
Térébenthine(French f.) turpentine
Teremín(Spanish m.) theremin, théremin, or théreminvox
Teretismthe Byzantine equivalent of anenaiki, a reference to the specific syllables used in Byzantine chomonie which were te-re-rem
tergiverser(French) to procrastinate
ter inzage(Dutch) on approval
Termagantshrew, a scolding nagging bad-tempered woman
Terme(French m.) term (a word), time-limit, end, term (legal)
Termin(German m.) a date, an appointment, a dead-line (also letzter Termin)
terminado (m.), terminada (f.)(Spanish) finished, completed
Terminación(Spanish f.) ending, termination, completion, end
Terminal (s.), Terminaux (pl.)(French m.) (airport, railway, etc.) terminal
terminal (m.), terminale (f.)(French) terminal
Terminal double baralso period double bar or final barline, a type of double barline with a thin line followed by a thick line, is used to mark the very end of a piece of music or of a particular movement within it
terminale, classe(French) the sixth form (in British schools)
Terminal vibratoa technique invented on the jazz cornet by Louis Armstrong, where a note is held initially with no or only very little vibrato before being given steadily increasing amounts of audible oscillation, thus softening it or giving it character
terminante(Spanish) definite, definitive, conclusive, categorical, final
terminantemente(Spanish) categorically
terminar(Spanish) to finish, to end, to complete, to finish off
terminar bien(Spanish) to have a happy ending
terminar de(Spanish) to finish doing
terminar mal(Spanish) to have an unhappy ending, to come to a sticky end, to end up on bad terms
Terminaison(French f.) ending (grammar)
terminer(French) to finish, to end
termingerecht(German) on schedule
Termini technici(Italian pl.) technical terms
Terminkalender(German m.) appointments diary
Terminología musical(Spanish f.) musical terminology
Terminologie(French f., German f.) terminology
Terminorum musicae diffinitoriumwritten by the Flemish composer and music theorist of the Renaissance, Johannes Tinctoris (1435-1511), Terminorum musicae definitioruman is an early musical dictionary
Términos de acentuación(Spanish m. pl.) terms designed to show where and what expressive effects are required in the performance of a piece of music, for example, whether loud or soft, where smooth or separated, whether strongly or less strongly accented
Términos de matices(Spanish f. pl.) terms that indicate dynamic nuance (dynamics levels and particular ways these might change)
Términos italianos(Spanish f. pl.) Italian terms, terms in Italian
Términos musicales(Spanish f. pl.) musical terms, terms found in music or writings about music
Terminus(Latin, English, French m.) the final stop on a bus route or station on a train line
Terminus ad quem(Latin) the point to which motion or action tends
the latest possible date that a literary work could have been written, a potential ending point for dating a manuscript or text
Terminus a quo(Latin) the point from which motion or action starts
the earliest possible date that a literary work could have been written, a potential starting point for dating a manuscript or text
Terminus vitae(Latin) the end of life, death
ternaire(French) ternary
ternario(Italian, Spanish) ternary
Ternaryin three sections, ternario (Italian, Spanish), dreitheilig (German), dreiteilig (German), ternaire (French)
Ternary formalso called rondo form, a three section form in which the first section A is repeated, often with some changes, after a middle section B, thus the form is called A B A
Ternary measuresimple triple time
Ternary timesimple triple time
terne(French) dull, drab
Terpto dance (colloquial)
Terpander of Antissa(in Greek, Τέρπανδος ο Αντισσαίος) (c. 712 - c. 645 BC) poet and musician. Famous as a singer, he won a prize for music with the kithara at the 26th Olympiad in Sparta. He established a school for musicians and created a system of musical notation
Terpentin(German n.) turpentine
Terperdancer (colloquial)
ter perse(Dutch) in the press
Terpodiona keyboard instrument whose sounds are produced from bars of wood by means of a revolving cylinder
an organ stop of 8ft. pitch
Terraced dynamicsexpressive style typical of some early music in which volume levels shift abruptly from soft to loud and back without gradual crescendos and decrescendos often by changing the number of instruments playing each part
Terra cotta(Italian, literally 'cooked earth') a hard unglazed pottery of fine quality, a figurine made of of this material, the brownish-red colour characteristic of this type of pottery
Terra firma(Latin) dry land (as opposed to the land under the sea)
Terra incognita (s.), Terra incognitae (pl.)(Latin) an unexplored region, territory that is unknown
Terrain(French m., German n.) the ground, a piece of land, a plot (of land)
Terrain d'aviation(French m.) an airfield
Terrain de camping(French m.) campsite
Terrain de golf(French m.) a golf-course
Terrain de jeu(French m.) a playground
Terrain vague(French m.) waste ground
Terrasse(French f., German f.) a terrace, the pavement area (of a café)
Terrassement(French m.) an excavation
terrasser(French) to floor (an adversary), to strike down (with an illness)
Terrassier(French m.) a navvy, a labourer, a ditch-digger
Terrazzo(Italian m.) a surface made of chips of marble set in white or coloured cement
Terrassendynamik(German f.) terraced dynamics
Terre(French f.) the earth (ground, planet), land, ground, estate
terre, àsee à terre
Terre à terre(French f.) in ballet, steps where the feet stay close to the ground
(French f.) down-to-earth, matter-of-fact, unimaginative
Terreau(French m.) compost
Terre cuite(French f.) terra cotta
Terre de pipe(French f.) a fine white clay (in English, pipe-clay), a porcelain manufactured from this clay
Terre ferme, la(French f.) dry land, terra firma
Terre glaise(French f.) clay
Terreno(Spanish) land, plot of land, lot (plot of land), terrain, soil, sphere (action, influence), field (politics, etc.)
Terreno adyacente(Spanish m.) adjacent land, land adjacent
Terreno arenoso(Spanish m.) sandy soil
Terreno de juego(Spanish m.) (sports, playing) field, (sports) pitch
Terreno en ...(Spanish m.) land in ... (place)
Terreno fértil(Spanish m.) fertile land
Terreno plantado de viñas(Spanish m.) field planted with vines
Terre pisée(French f.) clay mixed with gravel and rammed between shutterings so as to form a wall
Terre-plein(French f.) a platform, central reservation (of a road)
terrestre(French) land, earthly (figurative)
Terreur(French f.) terror
terreux (m.), terreuse (f.)(French) earthy, grubby (dirty)
Terre verte(French f.) in art, a natural green earth used as a pigment
terrible(French) terrible (awful), terrific (extraordinary) (familiar)
Terrible sonnetsGerard Manley Hopkins used the term "terrible sonnets" to designate several of his later religious poems, in which he feels isolated from God
Terribilità(Italian f.) qualities in a work of art that inspire awe and dread in the mind
Terrien (m.), Terrienne (f.)(French) an earth-dweller
Terrier(French m., German m.) (rabbit) burrow, terrier (dog)
Terriersthe church registers of landed property
terrifier(French) to terrify
Terrine(German f.) a tureen (for example, for soup)
(English, French f.) an earthenware dish used for making patés (patés are known as terrines if served in them)
Territoire(French m.) territory
territorial(French) territorial
Territorium(German n.) territory
Terroir(French m.) the soil, the region
Terrorcoresometimes shortened to terror, a term used to describe a subgenre of hardcore techno. Compared to other hardcore styles like breakcore, which uses the influence of breakbeat, and speedcore, which concentrates on exceedingly high beats per minute, terrorcore is a difficult term to define as each listener has a different definition of what terror is. Terrorcore employs the use of "scary" samples and synthesised sounds to give the tunes their "terror" edge. Also terrorcore can utilize both sped-up drum and bass samples and four-to-the-floor drum patterns similar to speedcore, frequently with tunes switching between both styles and then dropping with both simultaneously
  • Terrorcore from which some of this entry has been taken
terroriser(French) to terrorize, to fill with terror
terrorisieren(German) to terrorize, to fill with terror
Terrorisme(French m.) terrorism
Terrorismus(German m.) terrorism
Terrorist(English, German m.) a person engaged in organized violence against a government, etc.
Terroriste(French m./f.) terrorist
Terryafter Charles Stanford Terry (1864-1936), the cataloguer of music by Johann Christian Bach (1735-1782)
Ters(Swedish) the interval of a third
Terssi(Finnish) the interval of a third
Terssien taajuusero luonnollisessa ja Pytagorisessa viritysjärjestelmässä(Finnish) syntonic comma
Tertia(Latin) the third, the interval of a third
an organ stop sounding a third or a tenth above the foundation stops
Tertia modi(Latin) the third degree of a scale
Tertianan organ stop composed of two pipes, tierce and larigot, on one slide, sounding the interval of a minor third
Tertian harmonyor 'tertiary harmony', harmony based upon the interval of the third, particularly predominant in major-minor tonal Western music from the Baroque era through to the 19th-century
Tertiaryan institution developed in the 13th century, whereby a lay person could live a life devoted to religion without being a full member of a community
Tertiary harmonysee 'tertian harmony'
Tertie(German) the third, the interval of a third
an organ stop sounding a third or a tenth above the foundation stops
Tertium quid(Latin) something related to two definite things but distinct from both of them
tertius(Latin) third
Tertre(French m.) a mound
Terts(Dutch, Danish) the interval of a third
terughouding(Dutch) retardation, slowing down
Ter unca(Latin, literally 'three-hooked') a demisemiquaver, a thirty-second note
Terz (s.), Terzen (pl.)(German f.) the interval of a third
an organ stop sounding a third above the fifteenth
Terza(Italian) the interval of a third
an organ stop sounding a third above the fifteenth
Terzadecima(Italian) an interval of a thirteenth
Terza rima(Italian f., 'third rhyme') in linguistics, a form of verse consisting of stanza of three lines each, the first and third rhyming together and the second with the first and third of the following stanza
Terzdecime(German f.) an interval of a thirteenth
Terzdecimole(German) a group of notes dividing a bar or part of a bar into thirteen equal parts (usually placing 13 notes in the time of 8 notes of the same notated value)
Terze(German f.) the interval of a third
an organ stop sounding a third above the fifteenth
Terzet(German n.) terzetto
Terzett(German n.) terzetto, a vocal trio
Terzetto(Italian m.) three-voice compositional form of the 18th-century, usually short, which may or may not be accompanied
very occasionally, the term is applied to a three-part instrumental work
Terzflöte(German f.) or Terzquerflöte (German f.), a third flute in E flat, a minor third above a standard flute
(German) an organ stop
Terz Heckelphonea small member of the Heckelphone family pitched in E flat, one tone lower than the piccolo Heckelphone
Terzie(German) the interval of a third
an organ stop sounding a third above the fifteenth
Terzina(Italian f.) a triplet
Terzo(Italian) the interval of a third
an organ stop sounding a third above the fifteenth
terzo (m.), terza (f.)(Italian) third
Terzo suona(Italian) a difference tone
Terzquartakkord(German m.) four-three chord (second inversion of a seventh chord)
Terzquartsextakkord(German m.) the second inversion of a chord of the seventh
Terzquerflöte(German f.) or Terzflöte (German f.), a third flute in E flat, a minor third above a standard flute
Terzquintsextakkord(German m.) the first inversion of a chord of the seventh
Terzschichtung(German m.) stacked thirds (i.e. one third placed on top of another, as, for example, when building triads, seventh chords, etc.)
Tesafilm(German m.) a tradename for a product similar to Sellotape
Teschino cinese(Italian m.) temple block
Tesis(Spanish f.) thesis
Tesitura(Spanish f.) tessitura, tessiture (French)
Tessera (s.), Tesserae (pl.)(Latin) in art, a msall roughly cubic-shaped piece of marble or coloured stone used for mosaic-work
Tessitura(German f., Italian f.) the range and position of a voice or instrument, as in a 'high tessitura' to describe a part which is set high on an instrument. The convention has been that the tessitura describes the notes in the range most often used rather than every note, particularly as the very high and very low notes may be rarely called for
where a vocal line lies mainly in the higher part of the tessitura, the part is said to 'lie high', and when the vocal line lies mainly in the lower part of the tessitura, the part is said to 'lie low'
Tessiture(French f.) tessitura, range (for example, the typical tessitura of a Viennese grand piano is six octaves and a sixth)
Tessituur(Dutch) tessitura
Tesson de bouteille(French m.) a piece of broken bottle
Test(English, French m., German m.) an examination, a check on the condition of a person (health, knowledge, suitability, etc.) or of an object (condition, fitness for purpose, etc.)
Testa(Italian f.) head (as related to the voice)
(Italian f.) note head
(Italian f.) or riccio (Italian m.), Schnecke (German f.) or Kopf (German m.), tête (la volute et le cheviller) (French f.), the scroll, that part of the violin, etc. where ornmental carving is normally found. On the violin and related stringed instruments it lies at the end of the neck just above the pegbox
Test Act of 1673A law requiring all British officials holding public office to receive the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper in accordance with the rituals of the Established Church of England (the Anglican Church). This law was designed to exclude Catholics, Anabaptists, and Scottish Presbyterians from holding positions of importance
Testa di morto(Italian f.) Chinese block, temple block, wood block
Testament(French m., German n. English) a will, (political, artistic), a statement of beliefs, etc.
in literature, the term is often used in the sense of affirmation
Ancien Testament (French: Old Testament), Altes Testament (German: Old Testament)
Nouveau Testament (French: New Testament), Neues Testament (German: New Testament)
Testimony of simplicitythe Quaker belief that a person ought to live his or her life simply in order to focus on what is most important and ignore or play down what is least important. It is the practice among Quakers (members of the Religious Society of Friends) of being more concerned with one's inner condition than one's outward appearance and with other people more than oneself. Friends believe that a person's spiritual life and character are more important than the quantity of goods he possesses or his monetary worth. Friends also believe that one should use one's resources, including money and time, deliberately in ways that are most likely to make life truly better for oneself and others
Testamentsvollstrecker(German m.) executor
Testata con beccohead joint with beak
testen(German) to test
tester(French) to test
Testina(Italian f.) note head
Testina magnetica(Italian f.) magnetic head (for example, found on a tape recorder)
Testo(Italian m.) text, libretto
(Italian m.), or historicus (Latin), part for the narrator in an early oratorio or Passion
Testudoa species of lyre fabled to have been made of the shell of a tortoise
Tétanos(French m.) tetanus
Têtard(French m.) tadpole
Tête(French f.) head, face, hair, brain
(French f. - la volute et le cheviller) Kopf (German m.) or Schnecke (German f.), testa (Italian f.) or riccio (Italian m.), the scroll, that part of the violin, etc. where ornmental carving is normally found. On the violin and related stringed instruments it lies at the end of the neck just above the pegbox
Tête-à-tête(French f.) in English, 'head-to-head', private conversation or interview between two people without the presence of a third
Tête avec bec(French f.) head joint with beak
Tête-bêche(French f.) (in the printing of postage stamps) upside down or sideways in relation one to another, a set so printed
Tête de la note(French f.) note head
Tétée(French f.) feed
Tête folle(French f.) a scatterbrain, an irresponsible person
tête la première, la(French) head first
Tête magnétique(French f.) magnetic head (for example, found on a tape recorder)
téter(French) to suck
Tétine(French f.) a teat, a dummy, a pacifier
Tetrachord(Greek, German n./m.) the perfect fourth and the set of four diatonic, chromatic, or enharmonic notes that lie therein, which formed the basis of the eight note modes in Ancient Greek music theory, and which medieval attempts to reproduce form the basis of our modern diatonic scales
in modern music theory, the types of diatonic tetrachord are:
Lydian modea rising scale of two whole tones (whole steps) followed by a semitone (half step)for example, C D E F
Dorian modea rising scale of tone (whole step), semitone (half step) and tone (whole step)for example, C D Eb F, or D E F G
Phrygian modea rising scale of a semitone (half step) followed by two tones (whole steps)for example, C Db Eb F, or E F G A
Tetrachord-theory, ancient Greek
Tétracorde(French f.) tetrachord
Tetracordio(Spanish m.) tetrachord, tétracorde (French)
Tetracordo(Italian m.) tetrachord
Tetrada four-note chord
Tétrade(French) a four-note chord
Tetragramthe 4-line staff, for example, as used in Gregorian chant
Tetragrama(Spanish m.) or tetragráma, the 4-line staff, for example, as used in Gregorian chant
[entry provided by Donald Skoog]
Tetragrammaton (s.), Tetragrammata (pl.)(Greek) the four letter Hebrew word YHWH (Jehovah) treated as a mysterious symbol of the name of God
Tétragramme(French f.) tetragrammaton
Tetralogia(Italian f.) tetralogy
Tetralogie(German f.) tetralogy
Tétralogie(French f.) tetralogy
Tetralogya grouping formed of four separate elements; for example, the four dramatic works that form the Der Ring des Nibelungen by Richard Wagner (1813-1883) although, some commentators have pointed out that, more properly, it should thought of as a trilogy, modelled after ancient Greek dramas that were presented as three tragedies and one satyr play. As such, the Ring properly begins with Die Walküre and ends with Götterdämmerung. Rheingold, as such, is a prelude to the trilogy proper
Tetrardusthe system of dividing the chant repertory into eight modes had its origins in the eight echoi of the Byzantine chant of the Eastern Church. Various terminologies have been used associated with this 'eight-mode system'. While the most widely used is that employed in the modern official chant books of the Catholic Church, in which the modes are simply numbered 1-8 in Roman numerals, other nomenclature, based upon different mediæval theorists, is also encountered. One of these, familiar to Hucbald (c. 840-930), to the 9th-century authors of the treatises Musica Enchiriadis and Scolica Enchiriadis, and to the author of the 9th- or 10th-century Commemoratio Brevis de Tonis et Psalmis Modulandis, is first found in a late 8th- early 9th-century tonary from S. Riquier (Paris, Bibliothèque Nationale, lat. 13159)
the late 8th- early 9th-century tonary from S. Riquier (Paris, Bibliothèque Nationale, lat. 13159) lists four modes: protus, deuterus, tritus and tetrardus, respectively, the Greek words for first (D is the finalis), second (E is the finalis), third (F is the finalis) and fourth (G is the finalis), and subdivides each of the four into two, the first of each pair being designated authentus (authentic) and the second plagis (plagal):
numberGreek nameBoethian nameas in Alia musicathe notes of the mode
reciting tone in red
finalis in blue
1.protus authentusphrygiandorianD E F G a b c d
2.protus plagishypodorianhypodorianA B C D E F G a
3.deuterus authentusdorianphrygianE F G a b c d e
4.deuterus plagismixolydianhypophrygianB C D E F G a b
5.tritus authentushypolydianlydianF G a b c d e f
6.tritus plagislydianhypolydianC D E F G a b c
7.tetrardus authentushypophyrigianmixolydianG a b c d e f g
8.tetrardus plagis hypomixolydianD E F G a b c d
hypermixolydianthe compass of a plagal mode is generally a fourth lower than the corresponding authentic mode. Today we identify the hypomixolydian as the eighth mode, whose finalis is D, a fourth lower than that of the mixolydian. However, originally the eighth mode was the hypermixolydian, whose pitch duplicates that of the hypodorian but in a higher octave, as specified by Ramis de Pareja (1482) and other commentators of the period
Tetralogya series of four related works for the stage or oratorios, for example Richard Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen based on the twelfth-century German epic poem of the Nibelungenlied
Tetrametera line consisting of four metrical feet
Tetratonon(Greek) an interval consisting of four whole tones
Tetsu-zutsuJapanese bells
têtu(French) stubborn
teuer(German) expensive, expensively, dear (costly)
Teuerung(German f.) a rise in prices
Teufel(German m.) devil
Teufelskreis(German m.) a vicious circle
teuflisch(German) fiendish
Teukjong(Korean) a gong that is suspended from a wooden frame
Teutonic Ordermilitary order founded in the Holy land after the Third Crusade
Texas bluesa subgenre of the blues. It has had various style variations but typically has been played with more swing than other blues styles
Texas Starone of the figures unique to, or traditionally associated with, square dancing
Texas Tommy, thesaid by many to be the first swing dance because, during the period when it was invented (1909), all the dances were done in 'closed' position. The 'Texas Tommy' was supposedly the first modern dance of the time to include the 'break-away' step, that is steps danced in open position, while using the basic 8 count rhythm of swing dance
a dance move in the 'Lindy Hop' style of swing dance
Tex-Mex (music)dance music played by tejanos (Texan- Mexicans), a simple definition blurred by easy confusion with musica norteña (on the USA--Mexico border), conjunto and even mariachi, much of this summed up as musica chicana (Texan term for anyone of Mexican descent)
TexoletasGalician castanets
Text(English, German m.) passage (from a book, etc.), words to which music is set, a passage, a caption (to a picture), lyrics (to a song), libretto
in literary criticism, formalist critics use the term text to refer to a single work of literary art (such as a specific poem, essay, short story). In formalist thinking, this text is an autonomous verbal object - i.e., it is self-enclosed and self-creating, and thus the critic need not necessarily explicate it using the biography of the author, or the historical background of its time-period, or other "extra-textual" details
Textbuch(German n.) libretto
Texte(French m.) text, subject (of a lesson), passage (from a book, etc.)
Texte intégral(French m.) the complete text, a text that is neither abridged nor expurgated
Texter(German m.) lyricist, a copy-writer
Texte und Musik(German pl) lyrics and music
Textile(English, French m.) fabric, cloth or fabrous material, especially if woven
textile(English, French) of fabric or cloth
Textilien(German pl.) textiles, textile goods
Textilindustrie(Gewrman f.) the textile industry
Textilstift(German m.) fabric marker
Texto(Spanish m.) text
Text settingsee 'syllabic' and 'melismatic'
Text-typethat text which serves as the median standard for a large variety of copies, copies which often contain some minor transcriptional or aural errors and other minor deviations. A text-type is intrinsically related to each of its associated manuscripts, just as a trunk is related to its branches. This relatedness is what sets it apart from other text-types
Textual adjustmentthe alteration of the text usually of a song to make it more appropriate either with regard to place or time. Popular songs themselves often enjoyed renewed popularity by being brought 'up-to-date'. A Handful of Maple Leaves by William Westbrook, a very popular song from the South African War (1898-1902), was rejuvenated by substituting "Belgium" for "South Africa" in the second verse with a minor musical adjustment. Another example of textual adjustment, although for different reasons, can be found in Herbert Ivey's extremely successful song Somewhere in France. According to the printer's copies from the Whaley, Royce & Company files, held at Library and Archives Canada, this piece was reprinted at least nine times. As the War ground on, alternative lyrics were included for the last verse - " ... for he doesn't advertise and God bless him where he lies Somewhere in France" became "for he doesn't make a fuss, pray God send him back to us from Somewhere in France". In its final printings, the original lyrics were omitted entirely
Textual criticismor lower criticism, a branch of literary criticism that is concerned with the identification and removal of transcription errors in the texts of manuscripts. Ancient scribes often made errors or alterations when copying manuscripts by hand. Given a manuscript copy, several or many copies, but not the original document, the textual critic seeks to reconstruct the original text (the archetype or autograph) as closely as possible. The same processes can be used to attempt to reconstruct intermediate editions, or recensions, of a document's transcription history. The ultimate objective of the textual critic's work is the production of a "critical edition" containing a text most closely approximating the original. There are three fundamental approaches to textual criticism: eclecticism, stemmatics, and copy-text editing. Techniques from the biological discipline of cladistics are currently also being used to determine the relationships between manuscripts. The phrase lower criticism is used to describe the contrast between textual criticism and "higher" criticism, which is the endeavor to establish the authorship, date, and place of composition of the original text
Textualitya term for the idea that no single literary work can be studied as an autonomous object, but that each text is part of of a larger, culturally endorsed collection of texts, conventions, codes, and meanings
Textual varianta version of a text that has differences in wording or structure compared with other texts, especially one with missing lines or extra lines added. In some cases, textual variants reflect the difference between an author's early version or rough draft of a work and a later version or polished final product
textuel (m.), textuelle (f.)(French) literal
Text underlayin any performance of music incorporating words, the performer can scarcely afford to ignore their delivery and their relationship to the notes that carry them. This is particularly true in early music, where the words are often fitted to the music in an ambiguous or sometimes even an illogical manner. Therefore, text underlay often becomes one of the most daunting aspects of preparing a given work for performance. In the fourteenth century and well into the fifteenth, only those voice parts having a share of the upper melodic profile were typically provided with words. For a long time scholars had assumed that the untexted lower parts were intended for instrumental performance, but this presumption has been severely challenged in recent years. The later the repertoire, the more likely it is that a given work will have all voices texted in the source. Yet even as early as the fourteenth century, certain pieces are texted in all voices in the manuscript. This circumstance provides concrete evidence that supporting voices had at least the potential to be performed vocally. The problem thus lies in determining how to realize a vocal performance of these untexted lines. Often there are simply not enough notes in a given part to fit the number of syllables in the text. [The editor can adopt] a variety of solutions to this situation: sometimes [he may add] as many words of the liturgical text as would fit the number of notes, taking care to follow the text declamation in the texted voice(s) as closely as possible. In movements with short texts, such as Kyries, this procedure often works perfectly. Alternatively, untexted parts sometimes are simply vocalized on a neutral syllable (such as "ah") or on various syllables in succession
Textur(German f.) texture
Textura(Spanish f., Portuguese) texture
(German) a late medieval form of handwriting closely resembling the 'Black Letter' of early printed books
Textural musicmusic whose effect derives from the composer's creation of 'atmosphere' through the use of loudness, density and/or orchestration
Textura musical(Spanish f.) musical texture
Texture(English, French f.) the way in which individual musical lines interact within a musical work - one can talk about the texture being dense, when a lot is 'going on', or use the terms monophonic, homophonic or polyphonic, for example, when discussing medieval works
Textured papera term applied generally to a paper that has not been flattened by pressing it with rollers during production, thus retaining its natural rough finish, and specifically to a paper that has been embossed with a texture by pressing it with rollers incised with a pattern
Textus receptus(Latin) the accepted text, the standard text (of an ancient work)
the text of the Greek New Testament based on Erasmus' Greek text. In spite of considerable errors and flaws, for four hundred years it was accepted as the standard or commonly received text, hence the name textus receptus. It served as the primary text used in scholarly translations (including the King James translation) and in scholarly debate until historical and textual criticism developed further in the 19th century
Textverarbeitungssystem(German n.) a word processor

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