#14 MUSICAL TERMS
1.
Nach und nach German little by little, gradually
2.
Niente Italian Literally nothing, barely audible
3.
Nocturne French A musical piece of a dreamily romantic or
sentimental character
4.
No๋l French A Christmas carol or hymn
5.
Octave The interval between the first and eighth tone of a series (8
degrees apart)
6.
Octet A composition for eight voices or instruments
7.
Ode A Chorus in ancient Greek plays; or a musical work of praise
8.
Ondeggiamento Italian Undulating, rocking (as if by waves)
9.
Op้ra bouffe French A light, comic opera
10.
Op้ra comique French French opera with spoken dialogue instead
of recitative. It is not
necessarily comic in nature.
11.
Opera seria Italian An opera of serious character (Grand, heroic,
tragic, etc.)
12.
Operetta Italian A little opera. It is comic or not serious
in nature. Light and lively music,
often interrupted by dialogue
13.
Opus Latin A work. A
number in a series that the composer marks his works.
14.
Oratorio Italian An extended, dramatic composition for chorus and
solos with orchestral or organ accompaniment sung without stage play or scenery.
15. Orchestration The art of writing music for performance by an orchestra
Schirmer Pocket Manual of Musical Terms, Edited by Theodore Baker, Macmillan Publishing Co., 1978