| obbligato |
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noun
- (music) A part of the score that must be played as written; a required part.
- (music) An elaborate or flowery countermelody, often written to be played or sung above the principal theme (in a higher pitch range). Frequently includes a repetitive motif.
- w:John_Philip_Sousa, John Philip Sousa's The Stars and Stripes Forever includes a famous piccolo .
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| oblique motion |
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noun
- (music) , a kind of motion or progression in which one part ascends or descends, while the other prolongs or repeats the same tone, as in the accompanying example.
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| oboe |
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noun
- A soprano and melody wind instrument in the modern orchestra and wind ensemble. It is a smaller instrument and generally made of grendilla wood. It is a member of the double reed family.
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| ocarina |
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noun
- (music) A woodwind musical instrument that is closed at both sides to produce an enclosed space, and punctured with finger holes.
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| octave |
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noun
- (music theory) An interval of eight tones on a diatonic scale, representing a doubling or halving in pitch.
- The melody jumps up an octave at the beginning, then later drops back down an octave.
- The singer was known for astounding clarity over her entire five-octave range.
- (music theory) The pitch an octave higher than a given pitch.
- The bass starts on a low E, and the tenor comes in on the octave.
- (fencing) The eighth defensive position, with the sword hand held at waist height, and the tip of the sword out straight at knee level.
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| octuplet |
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noun
- one of a group of eight babies born from the same mother during the same birth, (i.e. one of eight twins).
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| offbeat |
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noun
- (music) The beats not normally accented in a measure.
- The congregation clapped along on the .
adjective
- Unusual, unconventional, not ordinary.
- He has such an sense of humor that hardly anyone finds his jokes amusing.
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| op. |
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abbreviation
- opus
- operation
- operator
- A detective
- Operator"s license, usually ops
- Opportunity, as in photo op
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| opera |
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noun
- (music) a theatrical work combining drama, music, song and sometimes dance
- (music) the score for such a work
- A building designed for the performance of such works; an opera house
- A company dedicated to performing such works
- (plural of, opus)
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| operatic |
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adjective
- Of, related to, or typical of opera.
- The politician's address was so flamboyant as to be
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| operetta |
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noun
- (music): A lighter version of opera with a frivolous story and spoken dialogue
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| opus |
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noun (opuses, pl2=opera)
- A work of music or set of works with a specified rank in an ordering of a composer's complete published works.
- Beethoven's opus eighteen quartets are considered by many to be the beginning of the Romantic era.
- A work, especially of art.
- The painter's last was a dedication to all things living, in a surprising contrast to all of his prior work.
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| oratorio |
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noun
- (music) a musical composition on a religious theme; similar to opera but with no costume, scenery or acting
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| orchestra |
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noun
- (music) A large group of musicians who play together on various instruments, usually including strings, woodwind, brass and percussion; the instruments played by such a group.
- The area in a theatre or concert hall where the musicians sit, immediately in front of and below the stage.
- A semicircular space in front of the stage used by the chorus in ancient Greek theatres.
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| orchestral |
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adjective
- relating to an orchestra or to music played by an orchestra
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| orchestrate |
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verb (orchestrat, ing)
- to compose or arrange orchestral music for a dramatic performance
- Sergio Leone orchestrated The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
- To arrange or direct diverse elements to achieve a desired effect
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| organ |
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noun
- The largest parts of an organism that are composed of tissues that perform similar functions.
- (musici) A musical instrument that has multiple pipes which play when a key is pressed.
- An official magazine, newsletter, or similar publication of an organization.
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| ornament |
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noun (plural ornaments)
- An element of decoration.
- A Christmas tree decoration
- Music. a musical flourish that are unnecessary to the overall melodic or harmonic line, but serve to decorate or "ornament" that line.
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| Orpheus |
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proper noun
- A Thracian musician and poet; failed to retrieve his wife from Hades
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| orphic |
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adjective
- having an import not apparent to the senses nor obvious to the intelligence; beyond ordinary understanding
eg. "mysterious symbols"; "the mystical style of Blake"; "occult lore"; "the secret learning of the ancients"
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| ostinato |
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noun (plural: ostinatos)
- A piece of melody, a chord progression, or a bass figure that is repeated over and over as a musical accompaniment.
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| ottava |
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adverb
- (music) One octave higher. Marking indicates a passage to be transposed up one octave. Abbreviation: 8va.
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| oud |
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noun
- A north African musical instrument resembling a lute.
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