Definitions for musical phrase
mu·si·cal phrase

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. phrase, musical phrasenoun

   a short musical passage

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. musical phrase

   In music theory, a phrase (Greek: φράση) is a unit of musical meter that has a complete musical sense of its own, built from figures, motifs, and cells, and combining to form melodies, periods and larger sections. A phrase is a substantial musical thought, which ends with a musical punctuation called a cadence. Phrases are created in music through an interaction of melody, harmony, and rhythm. Terms such as sentence and verse have been adopted into the vocabulary of music from linguistic syntax. Though the analogy between the musical and the linguistic phrase is often made, still the term "is one of the most ambiguous in music....there is no consistency in applying these terms nor can there be...only with melodies of a very simple type, especially those of some dances, can the terms be used with some consistency."John D. White defines a phrase as "the smallest musical unit that conveys a more or less complete musical thought. Phrases vary in length and are terminated at a point of full or partial repose, which is called a cadence." Edward Cone analyses the "typical musical phrase" as consisting of an "initial downbeat, a period of motion, and a point of arrival marked by a cadential downbeat". Charles Burkhart defines a phrase as "Any group of measures (including a group of one, or possibly even a fraction of one) that has some degree of structural completeness. What counts is the sense of completeness we hear in the pitches not the notation on the page. To be complete such a group must have an ending of some kind … . Phrases are delineated by the tonal functions of pitch. They are not created by slur or by legato performance ... . A phrase is not pitches only but also has a rhythmic dimension, and further, each phrase in a work contributes to that work's large rhythmic organization."

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. musical phrase

   A musical phrase is a unit of musical composition that is somewhat analogous to a sentence in language. It is a distinct, identifiable section of music within a larger piece or composition, usually characterized by a rhythmic, melodic or harmonic pattern. It is often marked by a pause or breath, a change in direction, or a resolution of tension.

Matched Categories

1. • Passage

How to pronounce musical phrase?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say musical phrase in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of musical phrase in Chaldean Numerology is: 9

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of musical phrase in Pythagorean Numerology is: 1

Examples of musical phrase in a Sentence

1. Stendhal:

   I think no woman I have had ever gave me so sweet a moment, or at so light a price, as the moment I owe to a newly heard musical phrase.

References

1. ^ Princeton's WordNet
   http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=musical phrase
2. ^ Wikipedia
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musical_Phrase
3. ^ ChatGPT
   https://chat.openai.com