Questions tagged [music]
Questions about the English terms related to music, and the proper usage of them.
103
questions
2
votes
2
answers
121
views
On the origins of the use of "key" or "clavis" to refer to the keys of an organ
I'm in the middle of some research on the origins of the word "keyboard" to refer to the thing we all type on to communicate online these days. There's a clear genealogy backwards from the ...
- 121
0
votes
0
answers
27
views
Is there a word for a person who makes wind instruments? [duplicate]
There's the word luthier for a string instrument maker, but with winds, the only option seem to be more like naming something in modern English, like "reedmaker" which would more apply to ...
- 1
0
votes
0
answers
54
views
Phrase Request: Lyric Subversion [duplicate]
I've noticed this quite often from Disney sound tracks.
Lyrics are in a certain rhyming scheme - one line happens and the next line approaches the end of the line, but the last word subverts the rhyme....
- 239
0
votes
1
answer
157
views
What does 'picket fence' mean here? [closed]
Today I was listening to a song from Fall Out boy called Miss missing you.
At one point in the song, they sing the line: "Baby you were my picket fence".
I know what a picket fence is, but I ...
-3
votes
1
answer
55
views
How do you describe a song that was released after the artist's death? [closed]
There are some words for movies released starring actors/actresses who died before their release. There are also similar words for books. But what is the equivalent term for a song or album released ...
-1
votes
2
answers
90
views
A word for a sudden shift in a song's complexity
Is there a noun associated with the part of a song where the instruments drop away very suddenly, with the purpose of creating suspense? To give you an example, I'm referring to moments like the one ...
- 93
0
votes
0
answers
106
views
Notating timestamp in writing about music
I was wondering what is more commonly accepted in academic writing about music. I was using 1:00 to notate the minute and second mark something is happening in a track (for example, a new section ...
5
votes
2
answers
407
views
Why do some folk songs from 1930s Appalachia pronounce the word 'Jordan' as 'Jerdon'?
In two songs I've listened to recently, "River of Jordan" by The Carter Family (1929-1932) and "Wayfaring Stranger" by Doc Watson (1992, but was almost certainly first played much ...
- 160
3
votes
3
answers
323
views
Looking for a word about writing lyrics for the purpose of fitting the music
There is a word that I'm desperately trying to remember. I think it is used in the context of songwriting but it could be more general.
It describes the act of writing words to fit music, or to rhyme, ...
- 33
1
vote
1
answer
103
views
Why is semibreve commonly pronounced as ˈsɛm iˌbriv?
I am seeing this on some dictionary sites: / ˈsɛm iˌbriv, -ˌbrɛv /
But, I've only heard it (in Anglophone musical contexts) as ˈsɛm iˌbriv.
I wasn't aware about a cafe breve until yesterday. This ...
- 133
1
vote
2
answers
114
views
Generic word for a verse, chorus, or bridge of a hymn or song
I'm working on a project that involves breaking a set of lyrics into “sections,” by splitting on double line breaks. Later on in the process, each section will be categorized as a verse, chorus, or ...
- 111
2
votes
0
answers
608
views
What’s the meaning behind the lyric from Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy “and the ‘68 festival wallflowers are thinning? [closed]
Elton John/Bernie Taupin’s lyric line from Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy “and the ‘68 festival wallflowers are thinning” has continued to confuse me in its meaning. I understand “‘68 ...
- 21
3
votes
3
answers
263
views
Is there a word for a style of art that is a great example of its own style? And a word that can be applied to its artist? [duplicate]
I was mainly thinking about musical artists whose songs have style that is very recognizable as an "artists name" song or as a specific genres song. Not a super pressing question but just ...
- 39
1
vote
2
answers
382
views
Term for describing auditory memory similar to 'eidetic' (for visual memory)
Is there a similar term for eidetic memory, but for sound?
An eidetic memory is the ability to remember things in exact detail, as if you can see them in your mind:
Cambridge
The measure of eidetic ...
5
votes
5
answers
4k
views
Origin of “ish kabibble” as an interjection i.e. 'What, me worry?'
In New York in the mid-70s, my ethnic German bride-to-be introduced me to an expression :
“ish kabibble”
At the moment, I thought it kind of catchy, and have used it ever since in milder WTF ...
1
vote
0
answers
37
views
Using "Sequence" in music context
As a part of my academic paper, I wish to use the "Sequence" word.
Here is the problem:
As you can see in the picture, the "Start Time" of each note is mentioned on the time axis. ...
- 111
1
vote
1
answer
216
views
Is there a word for when a song leaves out a word or phrase despite it perfectly fitting? [duplicate]
I'm gonna be honest, I've been hearing my fair share of Steven Universe music from devices I'm not in control of from across the room. In a few songs I've noticed they will leave out a word but I ...
0
votes
0
answers
75
views
That noise in old vinyls or rather shellac plates
How would you call the typical background noise in old phonograph records?
How would you call a record that sounds like that?
For an example from YouTube: Billie Holiday, You better go now, 1947
- 616
4
votes
1
answer
109
views
What would be the adjectival form of the word "sonata"?
Richard Wagner, it is said, looked down on "sonata form" as being too constraining. Roughly speaking, he objected to the long music passages with unchanging rhythm, with repeating cadences, ...
- 20.3k
4
votes
0
answers
108
views
Is there a general word for performing music? [duplicate]
If someone is performing music with an instrument, I'd say that they're playing the instrument.
If someone is performing music with their voice, I'd say that they're singing.
Is there a word that ...
- 210
6
votes
7
answers
4k
views
What term is used for the type of music that evokes a strong picture?
Some songs, such as Rodeo by Aaron Copland and Symphony No. 1 by Daniel Bukvich can evoke strong images in listener's ears. Rodeo has listeners imagining a wild west setting while Symphony No. 1 ...
- 2,013
1
vote
0
answers
78
views
Why are reverb effects referred to as "wet" or "drippy"? [closed]
Reverb is a type of natural effect you can get playing in wide open spaces, giving a sort of echo/reverberation as the name implies. But I'm referring more to emulated reverb through use of a guitar ...
- 314
11
votes
3
answers
2k
views
What does "autolyco-sentimental" mean?
Wagner is said to have described Mayerbeer's operas as follows:
(translated into English and originally written in German, probably.)
"Meyerbeer ... wanted a monstrous, piebald, historico-romantic, ...
- 357
0
votes
1
answer
251
views
What does "snappy number" mean in Jazz?
First, I am not sure whether it would be ok to ask a question like this in this category. If it is inappropriate, I'll erase it.
I bumped into Aaron Copland's saying, "... all American music could
...
- 357
0
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Word for the opposite of electronic music
I'm looking for a word to distinguish electronic music from non-electronic music. I'd like to categorize into these two terms and I am aware that acoustic music or maybe even analog music might be the ...
11
votes
2
answers
3k
views
When and where did "clam" come to mean a missed note in a musical performance?
Someone just asked me in chat what a missed note in music is called. Without hesitation, I replied, "A clam." It's what I've always heard in academic and professional settings since forever.
Only now,...
- 151k
47
votes
5
answers
17k
views
Why is a song's radio edit called a ‘7" version’?
For some reason, I used to think that a 7" version of a song was a 7-minute long version.
Then, I started noticing that most 7" versions I came across were in fact around 3:30 long. Upon further ...
- 1,384
-1
votes
2
answers
252
views
"Let me tell you how the odds gonna stack up." [closed]
There's a linkin park song that uses this expression, what is the meaninig?
- 11
-2
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Rendition or Rendering?
What is a better choice between the words {1} Rendition and {2} Rendering?
For a reviewer of a piece of drama or music, which word is appropriate?
If we want to consider parts of speech:
Rendition ...
user315231
3
votes
3
answers
631
views
What did 'rap' mean in 1970?
I found these folders (think pee chees) among a pile of school supplies. They reference "rap" in sort of a hippie look (and... is that John Wayne??), dated 1970. Presumably wrap is referring to folder,...
user317053
0
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Is a band referred to by "Who" or "What"?
If someone were to ask what your favorite band was, which of the following would be correct?
Who is your favorite band?
What is your favorite band?
I feel like this is obfuscated by groups named ...
- 736
1
vote
2
answers
161
views
What is the correct past-tense of flat & sharp in music?
Which is correct:
A flatted B note was added ..., or
A flattened B note was added ...?
Likewise, would "A sharpened [or sharped] C introduces chromatic passing note ..."
Thanks.
- 13
22
votes
9
answers
6k
views
Precise word to differentiate "major" and "minor" in music
In a similar manner to the way that we use "sex" to differentiate male and female, I want to find the best word to differentiate major and minor.
The Wikipedia page on the subject did not use any ...
- 1,763
1
vote
3
answers
284
views
Is there a word or phrase for a concert where one composer's works are played?
Latvian has the word autorkoncerts, translated in the Latvian-English dictionary as one composer's concert.
Russian has the phrase авторский концерт, which literally means 'author's concert'.
Is ...
- 449
0
votes
2
answers
910
views
What is the word for music that is both a capella and instrumental?
Now, I know the terms "a capella" and "instrumental" are pretty incompatible, and to tell the truth, something like "Lyric-less" would fit better than "instrumental" in this case. Basically, I'm ...
- 131
2
votes
1
answer
1k
views
What does “you dropped them keys” mean? [duplicate]
I was listening a song called To The Left from Beyonce.
There is a part that she sings:
“Because you was untrue
Rolling her around in the car that I bought you
Baby you dropped them keys
Hurry up ...
12
votes
1
answer
1k
views
What is the origin of the music term 'grace note'?
A grace note (Wikipedia link) is a generally short-lived musical note, which serves to 'decorate' a melody, while not adding any time to it, or affecting the melody's structure in any significant way.
...
- 221
3
votes
3
answers
5k
views
In solfège, can you pronounce "sol" like "so"?
From the dictionaries, it seems like at least in American English, "sol" (as in "do, re, mi, fa, sol") is always pronounced "sole," but there's a spelling variation "so" is pronounced "so".
Oxford (...
- 566
7
votes
5
answers
6k
views
How can I describe "people beat with their feet according to music rhythm" in English?
Seek for help: Now I'm doing a translation work. How can I describe "people beat with their feet according to music rhythm" in English? Maybe one word or a few words.
- 81
5
votes
5
answers
5k
views
Is a piece of electronic music a song or a track?
I've seen a song defined as:
A short poem or other set of words set to music or meant to be sung.
And a track as
A recording of one song or piece of music
A song clearly has connotations of ...
0
votes
2
answers
747
views
Word for: I can feel music inside me [closed]
I’ve heard a lot of musicians and music lovers say: ‘I can feel the music inside of me.’ Is there a word for that?
- 9
4
votes
4
answers
473
views
Word similar to well-read but in the context of songs
He is well-read in romantic literature and his brother is ....... in blues songs.
Is there a word that can be used to convey the same idea as "well-read" but in the context of songs? In ...
- 152
4
votes
7
answers
4k
views
Term that describes the technique in which an artist repeat lyrics from their previous work
I just want to preface this by stating I'm not sure if this would be better suited for the music stackexchange site, though I feel it's probably still appropriate here because my question mainly ...
- 2,465
0
votes
4
answers
965
views
What word describes a musical instrument's native character?
(I asked this question in the music stack exchange at https://music.stackexchange.com/questions/54865/what-word-describes-an-instrument-s-native-character but since I am looking for a word I'll ask ...
- 179
2
votes
0
answers
126
views
What is the name of the speaking style used when one wants to communicate a passage of music?
When someone wants to communicate a piece of music to someone else they will try to speak the music literally using nonsensical words. For example the start of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony could be ...
- 219
5
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Is there a verb for singing nonsense syllables to substitute for unknown lyrics?
Someone who doesn't know all the lyrics to a song might sing "la la la" or "dum dum dum" in place of the verses they don't know. Is there a verb for this? Similar to "humming" the tune, but with ...
- 300
0
votes
2
answers
147
views
Post-song Terminology
Sometimes, after the actual song is finished, musicians add an extra something to it, not necessarily part of the lyrics. Sometimes they recite a poem or sing lyrics from another song without ...
3
votes
3
answers
5k
views
Term for addictive song, replayed too many times it is hated or neutral now
I looked thoroughly on the internet, but I failed to find a term or single word (if exists any) for a song that is so addictive that you replay it again and again although you know you will hate it ...
- 33
3
votes
2
answers
12k
views
Music school vs. musical school [closed]
I wonder if it is possible to say "musical school" instead of "music school" (with the same meaning 'a school of music'). Recently I have come across several sentences like that:
*The obvious genius ...
- 215
1
vote
1
answer
907
views
Word for a jazz style where a vocalist sings what was previously an instrumental solo
Is there a word for a group doing a cover of an originally instrumental tone, where the vocalist carefully matches the original instrumental solos' pitch and rhythm?
For instance, here is a Weather ...
- 254