Humanités ACT - Music

the art or the act of writing pieces of music, poetry, etc.

composition

the music composed for a movie

musique, partition

an arrangement of a series of musical notes with specified intervals, in ascending or descending pitch order

gamme

having a pleasing, musical sound

mélodieux, mélodieuse

having blended sounds or tones that combine in a pleasing way

harmonique

a long and sophisticated musical composition written for a large orchestra, in three or four movements

symphonie

a musical composition that is written for one or more solo instruments and accompanied by an orchestra with three movements

concerto

a musical composition that is specifically written for two violins, a viola, and a cello, and typically consists of four movements

quatuor à cordes, quatuor de cordes

a singer or musician who performs alone

soloiste

someone whose profession is to write the words of a song, or lyrics

parolier, parolière

someone who plays the saxophone

saxophoniste

someone who is highly skilled at playing a musical instrument

virtuose

the main female singer in an opera or opera company

prima donna

the musical support provided by one or more instruments or voices to enhance or complement a soloist or main melody

accompagnement, compagnes

a long, elaborate song that is melodious and is intended for a solo voice, especially in an opera

aria

any musical instruments that can produce sound when its strings are touched or struck

instrument à cordes

a musical instrument that produces sound by vibrating air within a tube or pipe, typically made of wood or metal

instrument à vent, instrument en bois

a woodwind double-reed instrument with a long tubular body and holes and keys on top

hautbois

an ancient wind instrument shaped like an egg with holes in its body that are covered with the fingers

ocarina

a small, four-stringed musical instrument resembling a guitar, originating from Hawaii

ukulélé

a wind instrument with a reed and several sticks, played by squeezing a bag and blowing through one of its pipes, originated from Scotland

cornemuse

an electronic musical instrument played without physical contact, controlled by hand movements near two antennas that manipulate electromagnetic fields to produce sound

théremine

an early keyboard instrument resembling a piano in which the strings are plucked rather than being hit with a hammer

clavecin

a box-like musical instrument that is held in both hands and is played by squeezing and stretching it while pressing its keys

accordéon

a woodwind instrument of the oboe family consisting of a long wooden tube and a double reed

basson

a type of piano equipped with a mechanism that allows it to play music automatically

piano automatique, piano joueur

(of a sound) having tones that clash or sound unpleasant together

dissonant, discordant

an auditory experience created by the combination of musical and non-musical sounds within a particular area or context

paysage sonore, scénographie sonore

a subgenre of jazz marked by its infectious, propulsive rhythm, prominent use of brass and woodwind instruments, and its association with the swing era of the 1930s and 1940s

musique swing, swing

an electronic device that strengthens electrical signals or causes sounds to get louder

amplificateur

vocal improvisation where the singer uses nonsense syllables, rhythms, and melodic variations to create spontaneous and rhythmic expressions

scat, chant improvisé

producing a sharp, powerful sound, typically by hitting or striking something

percussif, percussionnel

a style of vocal singing in opera and oratorio characterized by a speech-like delivery, used to advance the plot or convey dialogue

récitatif