| obbligato |
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noun
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(music) A part of the score that must be played as written; a required part.
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(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.
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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
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(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
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(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
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(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.
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(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.
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(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
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(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
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Operator"s license, usually ops
- Opportunity, as in photo op
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| opera |
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noun
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(music) a theatrical work combining drama, music, song and sometimes dance
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(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
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(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
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(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
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(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
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(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
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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.
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(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
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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
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(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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