Music Glossary

T

musicglossary — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 14:21:38 +0000

Tivre augmented note.
That classification system for the Indian scales, invented by Bhatkande
Theka phrase of bols exposing the rhythmic cycle of a tal.
Tillana (carnatic) Dance song.
Thumri (hindustani) classical form of indian music linked to the danced expression of desire and to the cult of Krishna

Tihai short phrases played three times, ending on the first beat of the rhythm cycle.
Toda Fast runs and repeated note passages (instrumental music).
Tora see Toda
Trivat (hindustani) similar to tarana but composed with pakhawaj bols.
Tukhada see Tukhda
Tukhda (hindustani) small rhythmic phrase of 4 beats used by khyal percussionist.
Taan Musical notes rendered with speed weaving different patterns.
Taan Pradhan Prominence of taans.
Taan Samrat A title awarded to musicians who excel in the rendering of taans.
Tabla A pair of drums, the treble is played by the right hand while the left hand plays the bass.
Tala Rhythm – cycle containing a particular number of beats.
Talim Training, process of learning / teaching.
Tanpura A drone instrument , usually of four strings and is commonly used by vocal musicians.
Tap Khayal A blend of Khayal and Tappa.
Tappa A semi-art music developed in Punjab, created by Shori Mian – and later evolved into an intricate semi classical style with bol and taan thickly knitted at every possible step.
Tarana Idiom / composition using musical syllables based on Persian and Arabic phonemes.
Thaat 10 different sets of musical scales with seven primary notes in order of ascent and in sequence only to help categorise the maximum number of Hindustani ragas under it.
Thumri Popular semi classical idiom.
Trivat Idiom / composition with three prominent features – sargam, bols of tabla and tarana.
Tariff A standard charge for use of copyrighted works. Usually applies to fees paid by users of musical works and cable companies for the rebroadcast of programs.
Trade-marks Words, symbols, designs (or a combination of these), used to distinguish the goods and services of one person or organization from those of others in the marketplace.
Tablature A method of notation for string instruments. It usually indicates a tone with notation referring to the finger and string used to create it.
Technology Tools used to create or compose music. In this course, technology refers to all composition tools, from pencil and paper to the latest audio and digital electronic equipment.
Tempo The speed or pace of music; the use of slower and faster beats.
Texture Various combinations of pitched sounds, unpitched sounds, or both. (See also harmony.)
Theme And Variations A musical form in which the theme is repeated with alterations to its melody, harmony, rhythm, or texture.
Timbre An element of expression referring to the character or quality of sound that distinguishes one instrument, voice, or sound source from another.
Tone Poem A form of through-composed programmatic music in one movement. A tone poem follows a poetic line of thought as a means of compositional organization.

Tivre	augmented note.
That	classification system for the Indian scales, invented by Bhatkande
Theka	phrase of bols exposing the rhythmic cycle of a tal.
Tillana	(carnatic) Dance song.
Thumri	(hindustani) classical form of indian music linked to the danced expression of desire and to the cult of Krishna
Tihai	short phrases played three times, ending on the first beat of the rhythm cycle.
Toda	Fast runs and repeated note passages (instrumental music).
Tora	see Toda
Trivat	(hindustani) similar to tarana but composed with pakhawaj bols.
Tukhada	see Tukhda
Tukhda	(hindustani) small rhythmic phrase of 4 beats used by khyal percussionist.
Taan	Musical notes rendered with speed weaving different patterns.
Taan Pradhan	Prominence of taans.
Taan Samrat	A title awarded to musicians who excel in the rendering of taans.
Tabla	A pair of drums, the treble is played by the right hand while the left hand plays the bass.
Tala	Rhythm – cycle containing a particular number of beats.
Talim	Training, process of learning / teaching.
Tanpura	A drone instrument , usually of four strings and is commonly used by vocal musicians.
Tap Khayal	A blend of Khayal and Tappa.
Tappa	A semi-art music developed in Punjab, created by Shori Mian – and later evolved into an intricate semi classical style with bol and taan thickly knitted at every possible step.
Tarana	Idiom / composition using musical syllables based on Persian and Arabic phonemes.
Thaat	10 different sets of musical scales with seven primary notes in order of ascent and in sequence only to help categorise the maximum number of Hindustani ragas under it.
Thumri	Popular semi classical idiom.
Trivat	Idiom / composition with three prominent features – sargam, bols of tabla and tarana.
Tariff	A standard charge for use of copyrighted works. Usually applies to fees paid by users of musical works and cable companies for the rebroadcast of programs.
Trade-marks	Words, symbols, designs (or a combination of these), used to distinguish the goods and services of one person or organization from those of others in the marketplace.
Tablature	A method of notation for string instruments. It usually indicates a tone with notation referring to the finger and string used to create it.
Technology	Tools used to create or compose music. In this course, technology refers to all composition tools, from pencil and paper to the latest audio and digital electronic equipment.
Tempo	The speed or pace of music; the use of slower and faster beats.
Texture	Various combinations of pitched sounds, unpitched sounds, or both. (See also harmony.)
Theme And Variations	A musical form in which the theme is repeated with alterations to its melody, harmony, rhythm, or texture.
Timbre	An element of expression referring to the character or quality of sound that distinguishes one instrument, voice, or sound source from another.
Tone Poem	A form of through-composed programmatic music in one movement. A tone poem follows a poetic line of thought as a means of compositional organization.

V

musicglossary — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 14:14:21 +0000

Vadya brindam Orchestra, Melam
Vaggeyakara Composer
Vakra Irregular increase or decrease in pitch of the scale of the Raga
Varik Style Music played by embellishing all note. Instead of single notes musical curves ae heard
Varja Raga scale that do not contain all of the notes of the corresponding Mela Raga
Vasu 8 th Chakra; Melas 43 – 48
Veda 4 th Chakra: Melas 19 – 24
Venkatesha Pancharatna Five Krithis by Vina Kupayyar in praise of Sri Venkataeshwara
Vidala Khanda Jati Ata Tala: |5 |5 O O
Vijayaraghava Pancharatna Five Padas composed by Kshetragna in honor of Patron Vijararaghava Naik of Tanjore
Viloma krama Reverse order
Vinayasa One of the Raga Lakshanas
Virama Same as Anudruta(m)
Visesha Sanchara A musical phrase/passage that is not in accordance with the Arohana and Avarohana but enriches the beauty of the Raga
Visranti Period od rest in a musical composition
Vivadi Swara Dissonant note
Vusi Visarjitam – wave of hand in reckoning tala
Vyapaksharasa Vowels between the sahitya letters which enrich music effect
Verismo A form of Italian opera beginning at the end of the 19th century. The setting is contemporary to the composer’s own time, and the characters are modeled after every day life.
Vibrato Creating variation pitch in a note by quickly alternating between notes.
Virtuoso A person with notable technical skill in the performance of music.
Vivace Direction to performer to play a composition in a brisk, lively, and spirited manner.
Voice One of two or more parts in polyphonic music. Voice refers to instrumental parts as well as the singing voice.
Venerable Bede (673-735) Credited with earliest written reference to church bells in England.
Voorslag (Forestroke) Flemish and Dutch for chime. Term applies both to the short automatically produced tune on the divisions of the hour and preceding the striking of the hour and to the set of bells themselves. Englishchime; GermanGlockenspiel; Frenchcarillon; Dutchklokkens
Vichitra Vina An instrument similar to rudra vina except that it has no frets. It is played with a slide in a manner similar to a Hawaiian guitar.
Vadi The important note of a rag.
Vakra The usage of notes in an oblique fashion.
Varan Tal An obscure tal of eight beats.
Varanabhina Tal An obscure tal of eight or 16 beats.
Varanamanthika Tal An obscure tal of 20 beats.
Vardhan Tal An obscure tal of 19 beats.
Vasant Shikhir Tal See Basantshikhir tal.
Venu A south Indian flute.
Vibhag The measure or “bar”.
Vijay Tal An obscure tal of 20 beats.
Vikshep (Archaic) A style of silent timekeeping (marg nishabd kriya).
Vikshipt (Archaic) A style of silent timekeeping (deshi nishabd kriya).
Vilambit Slow tempo.
Vimohi Tal An obscure tal of 13 beats.
Vina 1) Any stringed instrument. 2) The saraswati vina of south India.
Vinaya Humility, said to be a prerequisite for discipleship.
Virbhadra Tal An obscure tal of 25 beats.
Virpanch Tal An obscure tal of 20 beats.
Visarjit (Archaic) A style of silent timekeeping (deshi nishabd kriya).

Visham Grah 1) The process of hiding or deemphasizing the sam. 2) Anarchaic term referring to the start of the percussion on something other than sam (das pran).
Visham Tal An obscure tal of 18 beats.
Visham Yati An ancient rhythmic form which is constructed so that the changes in tempo are calculated to avoid the structure of the tal. Therefore, the structure of the tal is consciously hidden.
Vishnu The preserver (i.e., God).
Vishnu Digambar Paddhati A notational system developed by Vishnu Digambar Paluskar.
Vishnu Digambar Paluskar A famous Indian musicologist.
Vishnu Narayan Bhatkhande A famous Indian musicologist.
Vishnu Tal An obscure tal of 17 or 36 beats.
Vishva Tal An obscure tal of 13 beats.
Vitat A bowed, string instrument (e.g., violin, dilruba, sarangi, etc.)
Vivadi A note which is not allowed in a rag.
Variation music intended as a varied version of some previously stated piece
Verse section of a song; each time it reoccurs the words are different
Vocal Sounds using the voice to produce sounds eg. clicking, onomatopoeic effects, yelling, chanting, singing
Vadya Or Vadyam musical instruments (mainly percussion) in Kerala
Vaisnava Hindu belief system focused on god vishnu
Valantala left side (bass) of the chenda drum
Veliccapatu possession medium
Vigraham the moveable icon, portable replica
Vilakkumadam structure for oil lamps, fixed to the nalambalam
Villu musical bow beaten with a stick
Vishnu Hindu god
Variation a musical device that involves a recurring idea with one or more of its musical elements altering, such as pitch, rhythm, or tone colour
Voicing a particular arrangement of the notes in a chord, producing a distinct tonal colour
Valve the device on a brass instrument that, indicated by the player’s finger, determines the flow of air in the instrument and the amount of tubing that the air flows through
Variation a varied version of a previously heard theme
Virtuoso an extremely technically accomplished performer/musician

Vamp A short sequence of chords that is repeated over and over again
Verse An introduction to a show tune that serves as a transition between the dialogue and the song form
Vibraharp See vibraphone
Vibraphone A pitched percussion instrument in which metal bars are struck by mallets and tubular resonators help to amplify the sound. The resonators contain rotating disks that create vibrato.
Vibrato A slight wavering in pitch
Violin A stringed instrument in which strings are drawn with a box or plucked in order to produce sound
Vocalese A technique in which lyrics are written for an existing recorded solo
Vadi The predominant note of the raga
Vichitra veena hindustani plucked string instrument, of the family of the been
Vilambit Slow lay
Vistar Improvisation or elaboration of melodic or rhythmic ideas.
Vinyas (hindustani) a note in a scale where the musician should not end or stop, from a classification system older than the vadi-samvadi sytem
Vinyasa see Vinyas

W

musicglossary — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 13:58:34 +0000

Waiata a Māori song; more specifically, laments for the dead (waiata tangi) or love songs (waiata aroha or waiata whaiaipo); modern action songs may be called waiata-a-ringa (literally “hand” songs) or waiata kori, and their tunes are not necessarily Māori in origin
Whakarongo to listen
Waltz A dance written in triple time, where the accent falls on the first beat of each measure.
Whole note A whole note is equal to 2 half notes, 4 quarter notes, 8 sixteenth notes, etc.
Wholetone scale A scale consisting of only wholetone notes. Such a scale consists of only 6 notes.
Waiata a Māori song; more specifically, laments for the dead (waiata tangi) or love songs (waiata aroha or waiata whaiāpo); modern action songs, which may be called waiata-ā-ringa (literally “hand” songs) or waiata kori and have tunes that are not necessarily Mā
Waiata poi songs that are sung while swinging poi
Waiata pōwhiri formal welcome songs
Waiata tīrakau songs that are sung while dancing with wooden sticks
Wairua soul, spirit
Walking A bass line that consists mostly of quarter notes to outline the pulse
West Coast Jazz Cool jazz, particularly performances that create harmony through counterpoint among melody instruments as opposed to the use of chordal instruments
Woodwind A family of wind instruments in which the vibrations that cause sound occur on or within the instrument
Work Song A song used by black American slaves

Waiata   a Māori song; more specifically, laments for the dead (waiata tangi) or love songs (waiata aroha or waiata whaiaipo); modern action songs may be called waiata-a-ringa (literally “hand” songs) or waiata kori, and their tunes are not necessarily Māori in origin
Whakarongo   to listen
Waltz    A dance written in triple time, where the accent falls on the first beat of each measure.
Whole note    A whole note is equal to 2 half notes, 4 quarter notes, 8 sixteenth notes, etc.
Wholetone scale    A scale consisting of only wholetone notes. Such a scale consists of only 6 notes.
Waiata   a Māori song; more specifically, laments for the dead (waiata tangi) or love songs (waiata aroha or waiata whaiāpo); modern action songs, which may be called waiata-ā-ringa (literally “hand” songs) or waiata kori and have tunes that are not necessarily Mā
Waiata poi   songs that are sung while swinging poi
Waiata pōwhiri   formal welcome songs
Waiata tīrakau   songs that are sung while dancing with wooden sticks
Wairua   soul, spirit
Walking   A bass line that consists mostly of quarter notes to outline the pulse
West Coast Jazz   Cool jazz, particularly performances that create harmony through counterpoint among melody instruments as opposed to the use of chordal instruments
Woodwind   A family of wind instruments in which the vibrations that cause sound occur on or within the instrument
Work Song   A song used by black American slaves

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