LexiTopic: Music
The LexiConnexxions analysis has identified 298 words that are used in 344 different ways related to Music in the A-O portion of Spelling Bee lexicon, which comprises 74% of the entire lexicon.
The list is given below, followed by the topical analysis, with definitions.
Words marked with an asterisk have been used in at least one Spelling Bee puzzle, then subsequently disallowed; they are retained here for historical interest.
Words marked with an asterisk have been used in at least one Spelling Bee puzzle, then subsequently disallowed; they are retained here for historical interest.
Words Related to MUSIC in the Spelling Bee lexicon: Word List
ACCENTACCOLADEACCOMPANYACCORDIONACCOUNTACTIONADAGIOAIRPLAYALTOAMBIENTAMPLIFYANDANTEANTHEMARCOARIAATONALATONALLYATTACKATTUNEATTUNEDAXMANBACKBACKINGBACKUPBAGATELLEBALALAIKABALLADBALLADRYBALLETBANDBANDWAGONBANJOBATONBAZOO*BEATBEBOPBELTBELTINGBINARYBINDBLENDBLENDEDBLEWBLOWBLOWINGBLOWNBLUEBODYBONE
BONGOBOOGALOOBOOGIEBOOKBOTTOMBOWEDBOWINGBRIOBUGLINGCADENCECANARYCANONCANONICCANTATACANTORCAPOCARIOCA*CAROLCARRYCARRYINGCATCHCATCHYCAVATINA*CELLICELLOCHAIRCHANGECHANGEDCHANGINGCHANTCHANTEYCHANTY*CHARTCHIMECHIMINGCHOIRCHOIRBOYCHOIRGIRLCHORDCLAVECLEFCODACOLLABCOLORCOLORATURACOMBOCONCORDCONCORDANTCONDUCT
CONDUCTEDCONDUCTORCONGACONTRALTOCOOLCOUNTCOUNTEDCOUNTRYCROONCROONINGCUTOUTCYCLECYMBALDANCEDANCEHALLDEEJAYDEEJAYEDDEEPDEMODEMOEDDEVELOPDEVELOPEDDIATONICDICTATIONDICTIONDITTYDIVADOMINANTDOTTEDDRAMATICDRUMDRUMROLLDUETDUETTEDDULCETDUPLEECHOECHOEDECHOINGEIGHTHELEGYEPILOGETUDEEXECUTANTEXECUTEFALLFALLSFEMININEFIDDLE
FIDDLEDFIDDLINGFIFEFIFEDFIFINGFIFTHFILLFINALEFINEFLAGFLATFLATTENFLUEFLUTEFLUTEDFOLKFROGFRONTFRONTMANFUGUEGALOPGAMELAN*GAVOTTEGIGGEDGIGGINGGIGUEGLEEGLIDEGONGGONGEDGONGINGGOTHGRADUALGRANDGRIOTHARMONYHARPHARPINGHEADHIGHHOLDHOMOPHONICHOOKHOOKYHORNHUMMEDHYMNHYMNALHYMNARY
HYMNBOOKIDIOMIDIOMATICIMITATIONIMITATIVEINDIEINTONATIONINTONEINTONEDINTONINGINTROINVENTIONIVORYJAMMINGJIVEJOCKJUJUKAZOOKEEPKEEPINGKEPTKETTLELABELLAMENTLARGOLEGATOLEITMOTIFLENGTHLENTOLICKLILTLILTEDLILTINGLINELIPPEDLIPPINGLIQUIDLIQUIDLYLITANYLIVELOCOLOOPLULLABYLUTELYRICLYRICALLYRICALLYMADRIGALMAJOR
MALLETMANDOLINMANUALMARACAMARCATO*MARCHMARIACHIMARIMBAMEDLEYMELODEONMELODICMELODYMETALMETALHEADMEZZOMINIMMINORMODALMODEMONOPHONICMONOTONEMONOTONEMOODMOTETMOTIFMOTIONMOTIVEMOUTHMUTENATURALNECKNINTHNOELNONETNONVOCAL*NOODLENOODLEDNOODLINGNOTATENOTATINGNOTATIONNOTATIONALNOTATORNOTE
OBOEOCARINAOCTAVEOCTETOLDIEOOMPAHOPENORGANOUTRO
Words Related to MUSIC in the Spelling Bee lexicon: Topical Arrangement
Subject Headings
Composition and ScoresGenres, Forms, Styles, and MotifsInstruments: BrassInstruments: ElectronicInstruments: EnsemblesInstruments: General TermsInstruments: Keyboard
Instruments: PercussionInstruments: StringedInstruments: WindMusiciansPerformance and SoundsPublication and Recording not technologiesVocal and Choral
Composition and Scores
ACCOLADE: music: a brace or a line used in music to join two or more staffs carrying simultaneous partsADAGIO: at a slow tempo —used chiefly as a direction in musicANDANTE: moderately slow usually used as a direction in musicBINARY: music: duple, used of measure or rhythm; or having two musical subjects or two complementary sectionsBIND: a tie: a curved line that joins two musical notes of the same pitch to denote a single tone sustained through the time value of the twoBOOK: music: a book of arrangements for a musician or dance orchestra: musical repertoryBRIO: In music, usually as part of “con brio”CADENCE: a musical chord sequence moving to a harmonic close or point of rest and giving the sense of harmonic completionCANON: a contrapuntal musical composition in which each successively entering voice presents the initial theme usually transformed in a strictly consistent way [a round]CANONIC: of or relating to musical canonCATCHY: a melody easily retained in memoryCHART: a musical arrangement; also: a part in such an arrangementCHORD: three or more musical tones sounded simultaneously; also, to play chords especially on a stringed; instrument; to make chords on; to harmonizeCLEF: a sign placed at the beginning of a musical staff to determine the pitch of the notesCODA: a concluding musical section that is formally distinct from the main structureDEVELOP: to elaborate (a musical idea) by the working out of rhythmic and harmonic changes in the themeDEVELOPED: to elaborate (a musical idea) by the working out of rhythmic and harmonic changes in the themeDIATONIC: of, relating to, or being a musical scale (such as a major or minor scale) comprising intervals of five whole steps and two half stepsDICTATION: the performing of music to be reproduced by a student; also, the music so reproducedDOMINANT: the fifth tone of a major or minor scale [and the harmonies built thereon]DOTTED: a point after a note or rest in music indicating augmentation of the time value by one half, or a point over or under a note indicating that it is to be played staccatoDUPLE: marked by two or a multiple of two beats per measure of music (duple time)ECHO: a soft repetition of a musical phrase; also, to compose or make such a repetitionECHOED: a soft repetition of a musical phrase; also, to compose or make such a repetitionECHOING: a soft repetition of a musical phrase; also, to compose or make such a repetitionEIGHTH: an eighth note; also, an octaveEPILOG: epilogue: the concluding section of a musical composition: codaFALL: a musical cadence or a falling-pitch intonation in speechFALLS: a musical cadence or a falling-pitch intonation in speechFEMININE: of a musical cadence: ending on an unaccented beatFIFTH: the musical interval embracing five diatonic degrees, or the a tone at this interval; also, the harmonic combination of two tones at this intervalFIFTH: the musical interval embracing five diatonic degrees; also, a tone at this interval, specifically, the dominant; also, the harmonic combination of two tones at this intervalFILL: a bit of instrumental music that fills the pauses between phrases (as of a vocalist or soloist)FINALE: the last section of [a] musical compositionFINALE: the last section of an instrumental musical composition (the symphony's finale)FINE: end —used as a direction in music to mark the closing point after a repeatFLAG: one of the cross strokes of a musical note less than a quarter note in valueFLAT: of a musical tone: lowered a half step in pitch (e.g., B-flat), or lower than the proper pitch; or a character ♭ on a line or space of the musical staff indicating a half step drop in pitchFLATTEN: to lower in pitch especially by a half stepHARMONY: the combination of simultaneous musical notes in a chord, or the structure of music with respect to the composition and progression of chords, or the science of the structure, relation, and progression of chordsHEAD: the oval part of a printed musical noteHOLD: in music: a fermata or pauseHOMOPHONIC: chordal; of, relating to, or suggesting a chord; also, relating to music characterized more by harmony than by counterpoint (i.e., not polyphonic)HOOK: a device especially in music or writing that catches the attentionHOOKY: music: appealing and easy to remember: catchyINTRO: introductionLARGO: at a very slow tempo —used as a direction in musicLEGATO: in a manner that is smooth and connected (as between successive tones) —used especially as a direction in music; also, a passage of music so performedLENTO: at a slow tempo, used especially as a direction in musicLINE: any of the horizontal parallel strokes on a music staff on or between which notes are placedLOCO: music: in the register as written —used as a direction in musicMAJOR: in music: having half steps between the third and fourth and the seventh and eighth degrees (a major scale); based on a major scale (a major key); equivalent to the distance between the keynote and another tone (except the fourth and fifth) of a major scale (a major third); having a major third above the root (a major triad); a major musical interval, scale, key, or modeMARCATO*: with strong accentuation —used as a direction in musicMINIM: a half noteMINOR: (adj.) in diatonic Western music, having half steps between the second and third, the fifth and sixth, and sometimes the seventh and eighth degrees; a minor scale, or music based on a minor scale or in a minor key; also, less by a semitone than the corresponding major interval (a minor third); also, having a minor third above the root tone (a minor triad); also (noun) a minor musical interval, scale, key, or modeMODAL: of or relating to a musical modeMODE: an arrangement of the eight diatonic notes or tones of an octave according to one of several fixed schemes of their intervals; also, a rhythmical scheme (as in 13th and 14th century music)MONOPHONIC: having a single unaccompanied melodic lineMOOD: a rhythmical scheme (as in 13th and 14th century music)MOTION: melodic change of pitch (stepwise motion)NATURAL: a sign ♮ placed on any degree of the musical staff to nullify the effect of a preceding sharp or flat; a note or tone affected by the natural sign; having neither flats nor sharps; being neither sharped nor flatted; having the pitch modified by the natural signNINTH: a musical interval embracing an octave and a second; also, the tone at this interval; also, a chord containing a ninthNOTATE: to put into notation, the recording in musical notes of musical sounds [Lex]NOTATING: to put into notation, the recording in musical notes of musical sounds [Lex]NOTATION: the recording in musical notes of musical sounds [Lex]NOTATIONAL: the recording in musical notes of musical sounds [Lex]NOTATOR: a specialist in musical or dance notationNOTE: a written symbol used to indicate duration and pitch of a tone by its shape and position on the staff
OCTAVE: a musical interval embracing eight diatonic degrees; also, a tone or note at this interval; also, the harmonic combination of two tones an octave apart; also, the whole series of notes, tones, or digitals comprised within this interval and forming the unit of the modern scaleOPEN: of a musical interval: not including intermediary tones [Lex]OUTRO: a short, distinct closing section at the end of something (such as a piece of music, a performance, or a news report)
Genres, Forms, Styles, and Motifs
ADAGIO: a musical composition or movement in adagio tempoANDANTE: a musical composition or movement in andante tempoATONAL: marked by avoidance of traditional musical tonality; especially: organized without reference to key or tonal center and using the tones of the chromatic scale impartiallyATONALLY: marked by avoidance of traditional musical tonality; especially: organized without reference to key or tonal center and using the tones of the chromatic scale impartiallyBAGATELLE: a short literary or musical piece in light styleBALLAD: an art song accompanying a traditional ballad; or a simple song; or a popular song, especially: a slow romantic or sentimental songBALLADRY: the composing or performing of balladsBALLET: music for a balletBEBOP: bop, jazz characterized by harmonic complexity, convoluted melodic lines, and constant shifting of accent and often played at very rapid temposBLUE: music: of, relating to, or used in [the] bluesBOOGALOO: a genre of Latino popular music of especially New York in the 1960s influenced by soul and rhythm and bluesBOOGIE: short for boogie-woogie: a percussive style of playing blues on the piano characterized by a steady rhythmic ground bass of eighth notes in quadruple time and a series of improvised melodic variationsCANARY: a lively 16th century court dance; Middle French canarie, from Old Spanish canario, from Islas Canarias Canary IslandsCARIOCA*: a variation of the samba, or the music for this danceCAVATINA*: a songlike instrumental piece or movementCOOL: of jazz: marked by restrained emotion and the frequent use of counterpoint; of a musical tone: relatively lacking in timbre or resonanceCOUNTRY: country music: music derived from or imitating the folk style of the Southern U.S. or of the Western cowboy, especially: popular vocal music characterized by simple harmonies, accompaniment by stringed instruments (such as guitar, fiddle, banjo, and pedal steel), repeated choruses, and often narrative lyrics; also, of, relating to, suitable for, or featuring country music (country singers)CYCLE: a group of creative works (such as poems, plays, or songs) treating the same theme (a song cycle, a cycle of poems on nature)DANCE: a piece of music by which dancing may be guidedDANCEHALL: dancehall: a genre of Jamaican music derived from reggae in which an artist improvises vocals over a recorded or live beatELEGY: a song or poem expressing sorrow or lamentation especially for one who is dead; or a short pensive musical compositionETUDE: a piece of music for the practice of a point of technique; also, a composition built on a technical motive but played for its artistic valueFOLK: folk musicFUGUE: a musical composition in which one or two themes are repeated or imitated by successively entering voices and contrapuntally developed in a continuous interweaving of the voice partsGALOP: a lively dance in duple measure; also: the music of a galopGAVOTTE: a tune for the gavotte in moderately quick ⁴/₄ timeGIGUE: a lively dance movement (as of a suite) having compound triple rhythm and composed in fugal styleGOTH: often not capitalized: rock music marked by dark and morbid lyrics; also, a fan or performer of gothIDIOM: a style or form of artistic expression that is characteristic of an individual, a period or movement, or a medium or instrumentIDIOMATIC: a style or form of artistic expression that is characteristic of an individual, a period or movement, or a medium or instrumentIMITATION: the repetition by one voice of a melody, phrase, or motive stated earlier in the composition by a different voiceIMITATIVE: characterized by repetition by one voice of a melody, phrase, or motive stated earlier in the composition by a different voiceINVENTION: a short keyboard composition featuring two- or three-part counterpointJIVE: swing music or the dancing performed to it; also, to dance to or play jive or swingJUJU: a style of West African music that is characterized by a rapid beat, the use of percussion instruments, and vocal harmoniesLAMENT: a dirge, an elegyLARGO: a largo movementLEITMOTIF: an associated melodic phrase or figure that accompanies the reappearance of an idea, person, or situation especially in a Wagnerian music dramaMARCH: a musical composition that is usually in duple or quadruple time with a strongly accentuated beat and that is designed or suitable to accompany marchingMARIACHI: the music performed by a mariachiMEDLEY: a musical composition made up of a series of songs or short piecesMELODIC: related to melodyMELODY: a sweet or agreeable succession or arrangement of sounds; also, a rhythmic succession of single tones organized as an aesthetic wholeMETAL: heavy metal: energetic and highly amplified electronic rock music having a hard beatMETALHEAD: a fan or performer of heavy metalMOTIF: a usually recurring salient thematic element (as in the arts), especially: a dominant idea or central themeMOTIVE: a motif: a recurrent phrase or figure that is developed through the course of a musical compositionNONET: a musical composition for a combination of nine instruments or voicesNONVOCAL*: not relating to, composed or arranged for, or sung by the human voice (nonvocal music)
OCTET: a musical composition for eight instruments or voicesOLDIE: one that is old; especially: a popular song of an earlier dayOOMPAH: a repeated rhythmic bass accompaniment especially in a band; also: music featuring such accompanimentORATORIO: a lengthy choral work usually of a religious nature consisting chiefly of recitatives, arias, and choruses without action or scenery
Instruments: Brass
BUGLING: to sound a bugle HORN: a brass wind instrument or any a wind instrument used in a jazz band; also, an animal's horn used as a wind instrumentMUTE: a device attached to or inserted into a musical instrument to soften or alter its tone
Instruments: Ensembles
BANDWAGON: a usually ornate and high wagon for a band of musicians especially in a circus paradeBOTTOM: music: the bass or baritone instruments of a bandCHAIR: a position of employment usually of one occupying a chair or desk, specifically: the position of a player in an orchestra or bandCHOIR: a group of instruments of the same class (e.g., a brass choir)COMBO: a usually small jazz or dance bandGAMELAN*: an Indonesian orchestra made up especially of percussion instruments (such as gongs, xylophones, and drums)MARIACHI: a small, strolling, Mexican band consisting usually of trumpeters, guitarists, and violinistsNONET: a combination of nine instruments or voices
Instruments: General Terms
ACTION: the degree of resistance of a musical instrument to being played, especially: the response or resistance of keys in a keyboard-operated instrument to the player's or operator's fingersALTO: a member of a family of instruments having a range lower than that of the treble or soprano; especially: an alto saxophoneBELL: the flared end of a wind [or brass] instrumentBODY: the sound box or pipe of a musical instrument
Instruments: Keyboard
ACCORDION: a portable keyboard wind instrument in which the wind is forced past free reeds by means of a hand-operated bellowsFLUE: a flue pipe, an organ pipe whose tone is produced by an air current striking the lip and causing the air within to vibrateGRAND: a grand pianoIVORY: the key of a piano, organ, etc.MANUAL: a keyboard for the hands, specifically: one of the several keyboards of an organ or harpsichord that controls a separate division of the instrumentMELODEON: a small reed organ in which a suction bellows draws air inward through the reedsMOUTH: an opening in the side of an organ flue pipe
OCTAVE: an organ stop giving tones an octave above those corresponding to the keysOPEN: of an organ pipe: not stopped at the topORGAN: a keyboard instrument in which sets of pipes are sounded by compressed air and produce a variety of timbres; called also pipe organ; also, an electronic keyboard instrument that approximates the sounds and resources of the pipe organ; also, a reed organ (harmonium); also, any of various similar cruder instruments
Instruments: Percussion
BELL: a hollow [usually metallic] device that gives off a reverberating sound when struck; also, the flared end of a wind instrument; also, a percussion instrument consisting of metal bars or tubes that when struck give out tones resembling bells —Used in Plural, orchestra bells; also, a glockenspielBONE: plural: thin bars of bone, ivory, or wood held in pairs between the fingers and used to produce musical rhythmsBONGO: one of a pair of small connected drums of different sizes and pitches played with the handsCHANGE: an order in which a set of bells is struck in change ringingCHIME: a musically tuned set of bells; an apparatus for chiming a bell or set of bells; one of a set of objects giving a bell-like sound when struck; the sound of a set of bells; a musical sound suggesting that of bells; also, to make a musical and especially a harmonious sound; to make the sounds of a chimeCHIMING: to make a musical and especially a harmonious sound; to make the sounds of a chimeCLAVE: one of a pair of cylindrical hardwood sticks that are used as a percussion instrumentCONGA: a tall barrel-shaped or tapering drum of Afro-Cuban origin that is played with the hands; American Spanish, probably from feminine of congo, meaning black person, from Congo, region in AfricaCYMBAL: a concave metal plate (as of brass or bronze) that produces a brilliant clashing tone and that is struck with a drumstick or is used in pairs struck glancingly togetherDRUM: a percussion instrument consisting of a hollow shell or cylinder with a drumhead stretched over one or both ends that is beaten with the hands or with some implement (such as a stick or wire brush)DRUMROLL: a roll on a drum or its soundGAMELAN*: an Indonesian orchestra made up especially of percussion instruments (such as gongs, xylophones, and drums)GONG: a disk-shaped percussion instrument that produces a resounding tone when struck with a usually padded hammerGONGED: sounded a gong, a disk-shaped percussion instrument that produces a resounding tone when struck with a usually padded hammerGONGING: sounding a gong, a disk-shaped percussion instrument that produces a resounding tone when struck with a usually padded hammerKETTLE: kettledrum, a percussion instrument that consists of a hollow brass, copper, or fiberglass hemisphere with a calfskin or plastic head whose tension can be changed to vary the pitchMALLET: a light hammer with a small rounded or spherical usually padded head used in playing certain musical instruments (such as a vibraphone)MARACA: a rattle usually made from a gourd that is used as a percussion instrumentMARIMBA: a xylophone of southern Africa and Central America with resonators beneath each bar; also: a modern form of this instrument
Instruments: Stringed
ARCO: Re: stringed instruments: playing with the bowBALALAIKA: a usually 3-stringed instrument of Russian origin with a triangular body played by plucking or strummingBANJO: a musical instrument with a drumlike body, a fretted neck, and usually four or five strings which may be plucked or strummedBOWED: music: to play a stringed instrument with a bowBOWING: music: to play a stringed instrument with a bowCAPO: a movable bar attached to the fingerboard of a fretted instrument to uniformly raise the pitch of all the strings; short for capotasto, from Italian, literally, head of fingerboardCELLI: plural, shortened form of violoncelli; the bass member of the violin family tuned an octave below the violaCELLO: shortened form of violoncello, the bass member of the violin family tuned an octave below the violaFIDDLE: a violinFIDDLED: played the violinFIDDLING: playing the violinFROG: the nut of a violin bowHARP: a plucked stringed instrument consisting of a resonator, an arched or angled neck that may be supported by a post, and strings of graded length that are strung between the soundboard and the neck; also, a harmonica; also, HARPING: to play on a harpLUTE: a stringed instrument having a large pear-shaped body, a vaulted back, a fretted fingerboard, and a head with tuning pegs which is often angled backward from the neckMANDOLIN: a musical instrument of the lute family that has a usually pear-shaped body and fretted neck and four to six pairs of stringsMUTE: a device attached to or inserted into a musical instrument to soften or alter its toneNECK: the part of a stringed musical instrument extending from the body and supporting the fingerboard and strings
OPEN: of a string on a musical instrument: not stopped by the finger
Instruments: Wind
BAZOO*: M-W’s 1st def.: a kazoo, an instrument that imparts a buzzing quality to the human voice and that usually consists of a small metal or plastic tube with a side hole covered by a thin membraneFIFE: a small transverse flute with six to eight finger holes and usually no keysFIFED: playing the fifeFIFING: playing the fifeFLUE: an air channel leading to the lip of a wind instrumentFLUTE: a keyed woodwind instrument consisting of a cylindrical tube which is stopped at one end and which has a side hole over which air is blown to produce the tone and having a range from middle C upward for three octavesFLUTED: to play a flute, or to produce a flutelike soundKAZOO: an instrument that imparts a buzzing quality to the human voice and that usually consists of a small metal or plastic tube with a side hole covered by a thin membrane [also called bazoo]LIPPED: embouchure: the position and use of the lips, tongue, and teeth in playing a wind instrumentLIPPING: embouchure: the position and use of the lips, tongue, and teeth in playing a wind instrument
OBOE: a double-reed woodwind instrument having a conical tube, a brilliant penetrating tone, and a usual range from B flat below middle C upward for over 2¹/₂ octavesOCARINA: a simple wind instrument typically having an oval body with finger holes and a projecting mouthpiece
Musicians
ALTO: countertenor or contralto voice; the second highest voice part in a 4-part chorus [sometimes]AXMAN: slang: a guitarist especially in a jazz or rock bandCANTOR: a choir leaderCHAIR: a position of employment usually of one occupying a chair or desk, specifically: the position of a player in an orchestra or bandCHOIR: an organized company of singersCHOIRBOY: a boy member of a choirCHOIRGIRL: M-W does not include choirgirl, a girl member of a choirCOLORATURA: elaborate embellishment in vocal music, or more broadly, music with ornate figuration, or a singer specializing in coloraturaCONDUCT: to direct the performance of (conduct an orchestra, conduct an opera)CONDUCTED: to direct the performance of (conduct an orchestra, conduct an opera)CONDUCTOR: the leader of a musical ensembleCONTRALTO: a singing voice having a range between tenor and mezzo-soprano, or a person having this voice; also, the part sung by a contraltoDEEJAY: initialism from disc jockey, a person who introduces and plays recorded music (especially popular music) on a show (such as a radio program); also, an entertainer who plays and often manipulates recorded music (as by combining tracks or adding effects) for dancing at a night club or party; also: someone who makes music (as through turntablism, sampling, etc.) that is often sung or rapped over; also, to perform the role of a disc jockey: to act as a disc jockey forDEEJAYED: initialism from disc jockey, a person who introduces and plays recorded music (especially popular music) on a show (such as a radio program); also, an entertainer who plays and often manipulates recorded music (as by combining tracks or adding effects) for dancing at a night club or party; also: someone who makes music (as through turntablism, sampling, etc.) that is often sung or rapped over; also, to perform the role of a disc jockey: to act as a disc jockey forDIVA: a prima donna: a principal female singer in an opera or concert organizationEXECUTANT: one who executes or performs, especially: one skilled in the technique of an art: a performerFRONT: to be the leader of (a musical group)FRONTMAN: M-W has this as an open compound, front man: a person serving as a front or figurehead, or the lead performer in a musical groupGIGGED: to work as a musicianGIGGING: to work as a musicianGRIOT: any of a class of musician-entertainers of western Africa whose performances include tribal histories and genealogies; a storytellerJOCK: a disc jockey, an announcer of a radio show of popular recorded music; also: one who plays recorded music for dancing at a nightclub or partyMARIACHI: a musician belonging to a mariachi —often used before another nounMETALHEAD: a fan or performer of heavy metalMEZZO: mezzo-soprano, a woman's voice with a range between soprano and contralto; also: a singer having this voiceMONOTONE: a person unable to produce or to distinguish between musical intervals
OCTET: the performers of an octet
Performance and Sounds
ACCENT: in music: greater stress given to one musical tone than to its neighbors; also, a musical accent mark; also, to accent a noteACCOMPANY: to perform an accompaniment to or for, or to perform an accompanimentACCOUNT: a performance (e.g., a straightforward account of the sonata)AMBIENT: of or relating to ambient music; also, a noun: music intended to serve as an unobtrusive accompaniment to other activities (as in a public place) and characterized especially by quiet and repetitive instrumental melodiesAMPLIFY: to make louder, esp by electronic or electrical meansATTACK: music: the act or manner of beginning a musical tone or phraseATTUNE: to bring into harmony; to tuneATTUNED: to bring into harmony; to tuneBACK: to provide musical accompaniment for —often used with upBACKING: to provide musical accompaniment for; also, the music that is played along with someone who is singing or playing the main tune: the music that accompanies the lead musicianBACKUP: musical accompanimentBATON: a hollow metal rod with a weighted bulb at one or both ends that is flourished by a drum major or drum majoretteBATON: a slender rod with which a leader directs a band or orchestraBEAT: music: the tempo indicated (as by a conductor) to a musical performer; also, a metrical or rhythmic stress in music or the rhythmic effect of these stresses; also, to strike repeatedly in order to produce music or a signal (beat a drum)BLEND: to produce a harmonious effectBLENDED: to produce a harmonious effectBLEW: of a wind instrument, horn, etc: to sound; to make a sound by or as if by blowing; to play (something) on a wind instrument (blow a tune)BLOW: of a wind instrument, horn, etc: to sound; to make a sound by or as if by blowing; to play (something) on a wind instrument (blow a tune)BLOWING: of a wind instrument, horn, etc: to sound; to make a sound by or as if by blowing; to play (something) on a wind instrument (blow a tune)BLOWN: of a wind instrument, horn, etc: to sound; to make a sound by or as if by blowing; to play (something) on a wind instrument (blow a tune)BODY: music: fullness or resonance of a musical toneCOLLAB: short for collaboration: a musical collaborationCOLOR: the quality of timbre in music (the color and richness of the cello)CONCORD: a simultaneous occurrence of two or more musical tones that produces an impression of agreeableness or resolution on a listener (opposite of discord)CONCORDANT: consonant; marked by musical consonancesCOUNT: to call aloud (beats or time units) (Count the cadence. Count the eighth notes.)COUNTED: to call aloud (beats or time units) (Count the cadence. Count the eighth notes.)DEEP: having a low musical pitch or pitch rangeDUET: a composition for two performers, or to perform such a compositionDUETTED: a composition for two performers, or to perform such a compositionDULCET: pleasing to the earEXECUTE: to perform (execute a piece of music)FLAT: below the proper musical pitch; a musical note or tone one half step lower than a specified note or tone; also, to lower in pitch especially by a half step; to sing or play below the true pitchHIGH: in music: elevated in pitchINTONATION: the ability to play or sing notes in tuneJAMMING: to improvise on a musical instrument with a group: to take part in a jam sessionKEEP: music: to stay in accord with (a beat) (keep time)KEEPING: music: to stay in accord with (a beat) (keep time)KEPT: music: to stay in accord with (a beat) (keep time)LEGATO: a smooth and connected manner of performance (as of music)LENGTH: relative duration or stress of a sound (such as a vowel or syllable in prose or a note in music)LICK: a musical figure, specifically: an interpolated and usually improvised figure or flourishLILT: a rhythmical swing, flow, or cadence; also, a spirited and usually cheerful song or tune; also, to sing or play [music] in a lively cheerful mannerLILTED: a rhythmical swing, flow, or cadence; also, a spirited and usually cheerful song or tune; also, to sing or play [music] in a lively cheerful mannerLILTING: a rhythmical swing, flow, or cadence; also, a spirited and usually cheerful song or tune; also, to sing or play [music] in a lively cheerful mannerLINE: a succession of musical notes especially considered in melodic phrasesLIQUID: being musical and free of harshness in sound (the liquid song of the robin)LIQUIDLY: being musical and free of harshness in sound (the liquid song of the robin)LIVE: of or involving a presentation (such as a play or concert) in which both the performers and an audience are physically present (a live record album, live entertainment, live audience)LOOP: a continuously repeated segment of music, dialogue, or images (a drum loop)MONOTONE: a single unvaried musical toneNOODLE: to improvise on an instrument in an informal or desultory mannerNOODLED: to improvise on an instrument in an informal or desultory mannerNOODLING: to improvise on an instrument in an informal or desultory mannerNOTE: a tone, a sound of definite pitch and vibration
OOMPAH: a repeated rhythmic bass accompaniment especially in a band; also: music featuring such accompanimentOPEN: of an instrumental tone: produced by an open string or on a wind instrument by the lip without the use of slides, valves, or keys
Publication and Recording
AIRPLAY: the playing of a musical recording on the air by a radio stationCUTOUT: a record album no longer in production that is sold at a discountDEMO: a recording intended to show off a song or performer to a record producer; also, to make or produce such a recordingDEMOED: a recording intended to show off a song or performer to a record producer; also, to make or produce such a recordingINDIE: one that is independent, especially: an unaffiliated record or motion-picture production company; also, something (such as a record or film) produced by an indie; by shortening & alteration from independentLABEL: a brand of commercial recordings issued under a usually trademarked name; also, a company issuing such recordings (she records with three labels); also, a recording so issued
Vocal and Choral
ALTO: countertenor or contralto voice; the second highest voice part in a 4-part chorus [sometimes]ANTHEM: a song or hymn of praise or gladness; a usually rousing popular song that typifies or is identified with a particular subculture, movement, or point of viewARIA: Italian: air, meaning songBELT: to sing in a forceful manner or styleBELTING: to sing in a forceful manner or styleCANTATA: a composition for one or more voices usually comprising solos, duets, recitatives, and choruses and sung to an instrumental accompanimentCANTOR: a choir leaderCAROL: an old round dance with singing, or a song of joy or mirth, or a popular song or ballad of religious joyCARRY: to sing with reasonable correctness of pitch (carry a tune)CARRYING: to sing with reasonable correctness of pitch (carry a tune)CATCH: a round for three or more unaccompanied usually male voices often with suggestive or obscene lyricsCAVATINA*: an operatic solo simpler and briefer than an ariaCHANGE: of the voice: to shift to lower register: to break (His voice started to change when he turned 13.)CHANGED: of the voice: to shift to lower register: to break (His voice started to change when he turned 13.)CHANGING: of the voice: to shift to lower register: to break (His voice started to change when he turned 13.)CHANT: to make melodic sounds with the voice, especially: to sing a chant; also, a song, or plainchantCHANTEY: a song sung by sailors in rhythm with their workCHANTY*: a song sung by sailors in rhythm with their workCHOIR: an organized company of singersCHOIRBOY: a boy member of a choirCHOIRGIRL: M-W does not include choirgirl, a girl member of a choirCOLORATURA: elaborate embellishment in vocal music, or more broadly, music with ornate figuration, or a singer specializing in coloraturaCONTRALTO: a singing voice having a range between tenor and mezzo-soprano, or a person having this voice; also, the part sung by a contraltoCROON: to sing or speak in a gentle murmuring manner; especially: to sing in a soft intimate manner adapted to amplifying systems; to sing (something, such as a popular song or a lullaby) in a crooning mannerCROONING: to sing or speak in a gentle murmuring manner; especially: to sing in a soft intimate manner adapted to amplifying systems; to sing (something, such as a popular song or a lullaby) in a crooning mannerDICTION: pronunciation and enunciation of words in singingDITTY: an especially simple and unaffected songDIVA: a prima donna: a principal female singer in an opera or concert organizationDRAMATIC: of an opera singer: having a powerful voice and a declamatory styleGLEE: a part-song for usually male voicesGLIDE: portamento: in music, a continuous gliding movement from one tone to another (as by the voice)GRADUAL: often capitalized: a book containing the choral parts of the MassHUMMED: to sing with the lips closed and without uttering speech sounds distinctlyHYMN: The music composed for a hymn setting; a hymn tune.HYMNAL: a collection of church hymnsHYMNARY: a hymnal, a collection of church hymnsHYMNBOOK: a hymnal, a collection of church hymnsINTONATION: something that is intoned, specifically: the opening tones of a Gregorian chant; also, the act of intoning and especially of chantingINTONE: to utter in musical or prolonged tones: recite in singing tones or in a monotoneINTONED: to utter in musical or prolonged tones: recite in singing tones or in a monotoneINTONING: to utter in musical or prolonged tones: recite in singing tones or in a monotoneLILT: a rhythmical swing, flow, or cadence; also, a spirited and usually cheerful song or tune; also, to sing or play [music] in a lively cheerful manner; to sing or speak rhythmically and with fluctuating pitchLILTED: a rhythmical swing, flow, or cadence; also, a spirited and usually cheerful song or tune; also, to sing or play [music] in a lively cheerful manner; to sing or speak rhythmically and with fluctuating pitchLILTING: a rhythmical swing, flow, or cadence; also, a spirited and usually cheerful song or tune; also, to sing or play [music] in a lively cheerful manner; to sing or speak rhythmically and with fluctuating pitchLITANY: a resonant or repetitive chantLULLABY: a soothing refrain; specifically, a song to quiet children or lull them to sleep; also, to quiet with or as if with a lullabyLYRIC: the words of a song —often used in plural; also, suitable for singing to the lyre or for being set to music and sung; also, of, relating to, or being drama set to music, especially: operatic (the lyric stage)LYRICAL: having an artistically beautiful or expressive quality suggestive of song; of or relating to song lyricsLYRICALLY: having an artistically beautiful or expressive quality suggestive of song; of or relating to song lyricsMADRIGAL: a complex polyphonic unaccompanied vocal piece on a secular text developed especially in the 16th and 17th centuries; also, a part-song, especially, a gleeMEZZO: mezzo-soprano, a woman's voice with a range between soprano and contralto; also: a singer having this voiceMOTET: a polyphonic choral composition [typically] on a sacred text usually without instrumental accompanimentNOEL: a Christmas carolNONET: a combination of nine instruments or voices
ORATORIO: a lengthy choral work usually of a religious nature consisting chiefly of recitatives, arias, and choruses without action or scenery