music Definition
mu·sic (myo̵̅o̅′zik)
noun
- the art and science of combining vocal or instrumental sounds or tones in varying melody, harmony, rhythm, and timbre, esp. so as to form structurally complete and emotionally expressive compositions
- the sounds or tones so arranged, or the arrangement of these
- any rhythmic sequence of pleasing sounds, as of birds, water, etc.
- a particular form, style, etc. of musical composition or a particular class of musical works or pieces folk music
- the body of musical works of a particular style, place, period, or composer
- the written or printed score of a musical composition
- ability to respond to or take pleasure in music no music in his soul
- Rare a group of musical performers
Etymology: ME musike < OFr musique < L musica < Gr mousikē (technē), musical (art), orig. an art of the Muses < mousa, Muse
music Idioms
face the music
☆Informal to accept the consequences of one's actions, however unpleasant
set to music
to compose music for (a poem, etc.)
music Synonyms
music
n.
A combination of tone and rhythm
harmony, melody, tune, air, strain, harmonics, song, minstrelsy, euphony, measure, refrain, phrasing, modulation cadence, the Nine*. Terms used in music include: scale, chromatic scale, tempered scale, clef, note, tone, pitch, sharp, flat, accidental, major, minor, key, mode, orchestral coloring, orchestration, instrumentation, transposition, variation, improvisation, rhythm, melody, harmony, tempo, accent, beat, down-beat, up-beat, off-beat, syncopation, chord, dominant chord, subdominant chord, tonic chord, counterpoint, interval, timbre, volume, resonance.
Musical forms for the voice include: opera, oratorio, hymn, art song, folk song, aria;
Musical forms for instruments include: symphony (the conventional four movements of a symphony are sonata, andante, scherzo, finale), concerto, concerto grosso, suite, partita; trio, quartet, quintet, overture, prelude, sonata, sonatina, Mass, scherzo, rondo, nocturne, caprice, invention, concertino, toccata, chaconne, passacaglia, fugue, étude, exercise, tone poem, symphonic poem, symphonic fantasy, fantasia, variations, rhapsody, ballet music, serenade, ballad, march, canzonetta, rondino, pastorale, dance.
Musical dance forms include: ballet, waltz, tango, polka;
General styles of music include: classical, long-hair*, serious, medieval, modern, folk, primitive, popular, national, sacred, secular, impressionistic, neoteric, baroque, neoclassical, neo-Bachian, modernistic, formal, romantic, a cappella, program, pure, jazz; rhythm and blues, R and B, blues, jive, ragtime, boogiewoogie, light rock, hard rock, folk rock, acid rock, heavy metal, new wave, punk rock, funk, technopop, rock-and-roll, bebop, bop, soul, New Age, rap, grunge, reggae, zydeco, fusion, ragtime, swing, barrelhouse, big band, bluegrass, country and western, country.
Styles of music according to its technical form include: melodic, polyphonic, contrapuntal, homophonic, Gregorian, strict, free, harmonic, lyric, epic, dramatic, pastoral, figured, atonal, whole toned, diatonic, pentatonic, twelve-tone, aleatoric, modal, syncopated.
Styles of music according to its method of performance include: vocal, instrumental, solo, choral, orchestral.
Styles of music according to its use include: operatic, symphonic, chamber, dance, concert, motion picture, theatrical, ecclesiastical, church, military, concert, ballet.
The study or writing of music
musicology, ethnomusicology, musicography, hymnology, hymnography. Responsiveness to music
musical appreciation, sensitivity, aesthetic sense; see appreciation 3, feeling 4.
face the music*
set to music
music Usage Examples
Converse of object
- compose: Bach's task was to train the choir, play the organ and compose new music.
- play: The Ramones merely played rock music, only faster!
Adjective modifier
- classical: John Self 5th Jul 2005, 11:58 Now hang on - are we talking classical guitar music here?
- live: Is there a music system you can use or space for live music to be played?
- loud: Drink in perspiring caverns filled with too many people and lots of loud music.
- contemporary: His rise back home was meteoric, and he is quite a champion of modern and contemporary Hungarian music.
- traditional: Back then, traditional music had bad press in France.
- popular: Notes for editors 1. Simon Warner teaches popular music at the University of Leeds.
Modifies a noun
- scene: Her take on her place in the music scene was what I felt I gained from the exchange.
- festival: British Sea Power A music festival - at a fort?
- lover: From Beck to Tom Waits, we've heard plenty of exciting new releases for discerning music lovers.
- downloads: While the US market for legitimate music downloads is already off the starting blocks, the European market lagged.
- industry: Guest speakers will discuss their first-hand experiences of working in the music industry.
- video: Editing to a soundtrack You can easily edit to a soundtrack for a music video or title sequence.
Noun used with modifier
- folk: Outside Brittany, another outpost of folk music is central France.
- pop: Through the years, the love song has been the most enduring and endearing pop music art form.
- dance: There's lots of dance music in this, meaning plenty of bass.
- chamber: He obtained many prizes in national violin and chamber music competitions.
- sheet: This was born out when I spotted this sheet music from 1960 for sale on E-Bay!
- rock: The Ramones merely played rock music, only faster!
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