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da capo

An Italian term, meaning "from the head", placed at the end of a piece as an instruction to the performer to repeat the first part of the music up to a given point; hence da capo aria. read more

Da capo aria

Two-section ARIA form. The first section is repeated after the second section's close, which carries the instruction da capo (It. "from the head". read more

development

The process of developing (expanding, modifying, transforming etc) themes and motifs; the section of a movement in which development takes place. read more

diapason

The main rank of pipes in anorgan, distinctive in tone and shape. They are cylindrical, and generally made of a tin or zinc alloy. read more

diatonic

Based on a major scale rather than a Chromatic one; hence diatonic scale. read more

diminished interval

An interval that has been reduced by a semitone. read more

diminuendo

Getting quieter. read more

diminution

The shortening of time values of the notes of a melody (usually by halving them). read more

diminutiuion

1 Uniform reduction of note values in a MELODY or phrase. 2 Replacing a longer note with a run or other FIGURE composed of short notes, also called "division". read more

discant (Lat."singing apart")

1 TREBLE apart. 2 IMPROVISED or written POLYPHONY in which voices move at same speed, particularly when all are measured. read more

dissonance (dissonant)

An interval or chord that sounds rounds, not harmonious like a consonance; also discord. read more

ditone

Interval spanning two whole tones. read more

divertissement (Fr. "entertainment, diversion")

Entertaining episodes of BALLET, tuneful AIRS, and spectacle within serious French OPERAS. read more

division

See Diminution. read more

dodecaphonic

Pertaining to composition with TWELVE-TONE ROWS. read more

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