V 1.0 T H E M U S I C D I R E C T O R Y [ 1995 ] A : ab - A German musical term. Written into a piece of music. Release pedal, organ stop, off. Absolute Pitch - Musicians (some not all),have the ability to recognise a note of music, without reference to other musical notes. Accent - When a note which has been written into a piece of music, needs to sound louder than the rest of the music, it needs to be played with an accent. This involves an increase in dynamics. Fz ( forzando ) or Sf ( sforzando ), are sometimes placed above musical notes to be accented. * Also see dynamics. * Also see rinforzando. Accidental - A note of music which is played outside of the original key signature of a piece of music. i.e.: There is one flat B ( b ) in the key of F mayor. When this note is played as an " accidental " in the key of F mayor, it will be played not as a flat note, but as a " natural " note. The note will be played not as B flat but as B ( not sharp or flat but natural ). A change in " key " is sometimes perceived within music, when notes ( in any key signature ) are played as accidental notes. The original key i.e.: F major is still the dominant " key " after an accidental has been played, unless the accidental has led upto a change in " key " ( that would be shown at the beginning of the next bar ). * Also see key signature. Acoustics - 1. every sound we hear travels through space in sound waves. As sound waves travel they are affected by heat, and the density of materials they travel in. i.e.; walls, glass, doors ect. ect. Therefore the place or building in which we play or listen, has its own effect on the sound produced by the instruments or monitoring system. Some auditoriums and recording studios have acoustic treatment, so that resonation and distortion are kept to a theoretical minimum. 2. An instrument which can be played, without the need for electricity. i.e.: a classical/acoustic guitar. * Also see direct sound. Adagio - Italian musical term. Written into a piece of music. To be played at a slow pace. Ad lib - A musical term. Written into a piece of music. To sing or play in addition to the written music. A.D.S.R - Attack, Decay, Sustain and release. All sounds have these elements. The first part of any sound we hear, is known as the attack ( think of a snare drum as the stick hits the skin ). The second part of a sound is the decay ( this occurs just milliseconds after the drum is struck ). The third part of a sound is the sustain ( think of the spring under the snare drum vibrating ). The final part of the sound is the release ( the time between the spring of the snare drum vibrating and total silence). Every sound we hear contains A.D.S.R, and is known as a " sound envelope ". ^ 90| a | |\d a = attack | | \_________ d = decay db| | s \r s = sustain | | \ r = release | | \ | | \ db= decibels 0| T = time | |<---------T---------> Diagram. A sound envelope Affettuose - Italian musical term. Written into a piece of music. To be played with affection and tenderness. Affrettando - Italian musical term. Written into a piece of music. To be played with an increase in speed, hurrying along. Agitato - Italian musical term. Written into a piece of music. To be played with excited rapid tempo. Allargando - Italian musical term. Written into a piece of music. To be played with a sense of slowing with more power. Allegretto - Italian musical term. Written into a piece of music. To be played at a lively pace.( Not as fast as allegro ). Allegro - Italian musical term. Written into a piece of music. To be played at a brisk pace. Alt - Latin musical term. This term is used to describe any musical notes that are played above the note G ( in the treble clef ). These notes are said to be in " alt " ( The notes in the next octave above that are said to be in " altissimo " ). Amoroso - Italian musical term. Written into a piece of music. To be played with some emotional feeling. Amplification - The amplifier plays an important role in musical recording and reproduction. A good amplifier is one that will reproduce the sound of instruments faithfully. This is not as easy as it sounds ! A good pair of monitors/speakers also need to be connected to an amplifier, and they need to be matched electronically. Many recording studios have " Soffit mounted " monitors, built into the wall in front of the mixing desk. These type of speakers can usually reproduce a sound i.e.; A kick drum at the same S.P.L ( sound pressure level ) as it produces live!. To do this an amplifier capable of producing more than 300 watts per channel is needed !. Most home studios are not large enough for such a massive system, and use " nearfield " monitors as they are better matched to smaller control rooms. i.e.: to reproduce low frequency's of 40 Hz and below correctly the size of the room needs to be large enough to allow low frequency sound waves to complete a whole wave cycle before being reflected/defracted by the outer walls. If a small control room ( home studio ) is to " sound " good and not empose an uneven low frequency response, then the monitor/speakers need to have a low frequency response which will not allow " standing waves " to " muddy " the rest of the sound. A good pair of monitor/speakers such as Yamaha NS10 ( as used by many studios ) are a good investment to start with. If monitor/speakers are power rated at 120 watts per channel, it is better to use an amplifier that has a slightly higher output ( 150 watts per channel ),than one with a lower power output ( 60 watts per channel ). The reason for this is that turning a low powered amp up to near maximum will not result in an increase of DBs, It will only induce harmonic distortion, which can in turn damage the drive units of your monitors/speakers. Tannoy, Yamaha, Alesis and Soundcraft all make nearfield monitors. When this type of monitor/speaker is matched with a good amplifier i.e.: Yamaha, Bryston, Audiolab or Quad, you can be suprised by the accuracy, width and depth of the stereo image. ( something most ordinary hi/fi systems, sitting in most living rooms lack ). When you purchase an amplifier to drive your favourite monitors be careful not to use any old cable that you have around, always buy good 79 strand " speaker cable " and cut each piece to " exactly " the same length. The reason for this is that the amplifier needs to be looking at each channel electronically, and can only do this correctly if the resistance to the signal provided by the cable is the same at the left and right speaker terminals. * Also see direct sound. Animato - Italian musical term. Written into a piece of music. To be played as a lively spirited performance. Anticipation - This is a musical term used when some notes of a chord are played before the rest of the chord. Creating dissonance with the previous chord. * Also see dissonance. Arpeggio - Italian musical term. To describe a style of playing chords in sequence as single notes. Rather than playing them simultaneously, as a chord. Attacca - Italian musical term. Written into a piece of music. To indicate to a musician to continue from the end of one section of music, into the beginning of the next section, without a pause. Augmented interval - When a major interval is increased by one semitone it becomes an augmented interval. As opposed to a minor interval when decreased by one semitone ( diminished interval ). Augmentation - A musical term. Used to describe the process of lengthening a musical phrase or melody. This is usually achieved by doubling the time values of the notes. i.e.: A crotchet ( quarter note ) is played as a minim ( half note ). Aux. send/return - An auxiliary send and return section can be found on the mixing desk. Aux. send is used to send signals to be processed to a patchbay, which in turn sends the signal to the effects units. The signal is then returned after it has been processed back to the auxiliary return of the mixing desk. The amount of processed signal can then be mixed in with the dry ( un-processed ) signal, until the desired sound is achieved. * Also see effect units. Azimuth and zenith - Studio technicians use these points in space as a reference for tape record, play and erase head alignment, " Test tone " tapes are used when head alignment is necessary, these help the technician to optimise tape machine performance. A badly aligned multi - track recorder can damage master tapes and ruin recording sessions. A qualified technician or engineer will always keep a regular check on record, play and erase head alignment, to keep the tape in perfect contact with the tape head assembly. B: Bar - Written music is divided into bars. How many beats in a " bar " there are, is decided by the time signature of that piece of music. i.e.: in 4/4 time ( C or common time ) there are 4 beats in a bar. * Also see time signature. Battuta - Italian musical term. Written into a piece of music. To return to a strict rhythm, after a departure from the original rhythm. * Also see tempo. Bell canto - Italian musical term. used to describe good singing. i.e.: controlled dynamics, good phrasing and vocal tone. * Also see vibrato. Bias - When a tape passes over the heads of a tape recording machine, the oxide particles become magnetised. However the magnetic information recorded onto the tape is affected by non linearities. i.e.; distortion of certain frequencies. This is corrected by applying a very high ( inaudible ) frequency signal. The signal is applied to magnetic tape via the tape heads, at the same time as the music being recorded onto the tape. To achieve good results it is necessary to match the bias of a tape recorder, with the tape you wish to record onto. Recording studio technicians have the correct equipment to adjust bias if necessary. However tape recorders are usually set-up at the factory for bias, with the manufacturers recommending a tape with the best characteristics for there machines. Ampex, TDK, 3m, Maxell ect. can also advise you on which of their products will give the best results. ( Ampex 449 grand master gold, was used by Pink Floyd to record the album The Division Bell ! ) * Also see format, tape. Blue note - usually associated with jazz or blues. A note played outside of the key signature ( out of tune ). Usually the third note or the seventh note of the scale, between the major and minor harmonic interval. * Also see notes. * Also see harmony. B.P.M - Beats per minute. The speed at which a piece of music is to be played. Sometimes a " c " ( circa ) is placed in front of metronome marks. The " c " is used to indicate to the performers, that the speed is " about " that which is written on the score. Some deviation from a strict tempo is therefore allowed whenever a " c " ( circa ) is used. This is often useful when the acoustics of the concert hall in which the performance is to take place, " lends " itself to the music if it is played at a certain speed. Reverb " over-hang " can muddle the direct sound we hear with the reflected sound. Many decision's concerning the timing or speed at which music is to be played, is made by a conductor ( who sometimes employs the help of a acoustics engineer ). * Also see Direct sound. * Also see doppio movimento. Break - A section in a piece of music. In modern music the " break " is a short solo. the other musicians play along, but give the lead instrument space to shine ( spotlighting that particular instrument ). The main " hook " or " feel " can also change momentarily, to regain the listeners interest in the music. A break can be performed by any instrument. Usually a sax or lead guitar perform a " break " to great effect. Bridge - A section in a piece of music. a short section of music composed to lead from one section to another. i.e.; when a verse ends, leading into a chorus we find a bridge. The bridge takes us smoothly from the verse into the chorus. Sometimes a bridge can contain a change of key. * Also see transpose. Buss - Busses are a fundamental part of multitrack recording. A buss carries a signal from the input stage of the mixing desk, to the record output stage of the mixing desk ( to the multitrack recorder ). A switch on a mixing desk ( to assign the input signal to a buss ) can be found next to the input fader. There are usually 8, 16 or 24 busses in-place on professional mixing desks. Mixers also usually have a 2 channel stereo buss ( to send the signal to a stereo recorder ). * Also see mixing desk. C: Cadence - A musical term, used to describe harmonic progress at the end of a phrase or composition. * Also see harmony. Calando - Italian musical term. Written into a piece of music. decrease in volume, with slowing tempo. * Also see dynamics * Also see B.P.M Calmanto - Italian musical term. Written into a piece of music. To be played with a sense of calmness. Cantabile - Italian musical term. Written into a piece of music. A direction to perform the music in a melodic singing style. Canto - Italian musical term. Written into a piece of music. To be played following carefully, the lead instrument or vocal passage. Cappella - To sing unaccompanied by musical instruments. Cappella Originates from a very early musical period when there were few organs in churches. A - cappella has become a custom in the Sistine chapel, As no musical instrument has ever been played in there! Chamber Music - Chamber music dates back to the 17th century. It is performed by a combination of string, wind instruments and a piano. This type of ensemble would usually perform to a small audience. Choir - A group of singers. Usually it is a difficult job to get a good balance of tone with untrained choirs. The skill of the conductor, is to place each member of the choir in the best position, to achieve the best tonal and dynamic balance possible in the building. * Also see acoustics. Choral - The style of singing performed by a choir or chorus. Sometimes accompanied by a piano or organ. Chords - a group of notes ( usually more than three ), played together. chords can be found in most music. Simple chords in their root positions i.e.: C (notes c,e,g) and F (notes f,a,c), contain notes to be played simultaneously. Some instruments are not able to play chords. i.e.; flute, trumpet, bassoon ect.. These are know as monophonic instruments. However it is possible to simulate a "chord" from three or more of these instruments. Each musician must play or sing, one of the notes in the chord simultaneously. * Also see harmony. * Also see inversion. Chorus - A group of voices, singing/playing the same notes of music together. The slight differences in pitch and amplitude in combination with slight tonal differences, create a larger/warmer sound than a solo voice can produce alone. Clef - A musical sign. Drawn onto the staff. The clef is used so that musical notation can be drawn onto separate staff's. The register " treble " ( above middle c ) is depicted by the treble clef. The register " bass " ( below middle c ) is depicted by the bass clef. * Also see staff. Close harmony - The intervals of notes in the chord, are as close to the melody as possible. * Also see intervals. Coda - Italian musical term. Written into a piece of music. Final, to round off, to bring a piece of music to a conclusion. Colla parte - Italian musical term. Written into a piece of music A direction to the accompaniment, to keep in time with the soloist. * Also see B.P.M coll'ottava - Italian musical term. Written into a piece of music. A direction to a keyboard player. To play in addition to the written notes, the same musical notes one octave higher. Combination tones - Sometimes when two loud musical note are sounded simultaneously a third frequency is produced. The human ear ( and your brain ) produce an additional frequency, equal to the sum of difference between the two original frequencies. i.e.: 500hz + 800hz diff = 300hz. Combination tones ( or third sounds ) are usually very low in volume or inaudible ! Comodo - Italian musical term. Written into a piece of music. To play at a comfortable moderate pace. Compact disc - A digital recording and playback system. A compact disc is recorded at 44.1 Khz. The reason for this is the " NYQUIST THEORY ". lit: The frequency of a digital recording should be twice that of the highest frequency contained in the sound to be reproduced. * Also see sampler. Compose - The ability to create a new and original piece of music. The skills needed to write a piece of music, include knowledge of harmony, scales and general musical terms ( read on ! ). But most of all the ability to find inspiration. Compressor - A recording studio and live performance " effects " unit. A compressor is an automatic volume control which is inserted into the signal chain to smooth any large increases in dynamics. When recording a live vocal performance it is common practise to record without distortion onto the master tape. Just a few decibels to many, makes the difference between a perfect recording and a distorted one. When used correctly a compressor will en-able you to record that elusive ( distortion free ) perfect performance. The side effects of compression ( when used correctly ), include an increase in treble. The reason for this is because there is more energy at lower frequency's for the compressor to work on, bringing Higher frequencies forward in the mix. This can be a desirable or undesirable side effect. If a compressor is not set up to respond to the dynamics correctly another side effect occurs, known as pumping. However in certain instances this can be used artistically. A compressor used correctly will sound " transparent ", allowing as much of the original dynamic range to be recorded as possible. * Also see dynamics. * Also see frequency. Concert pitch - The standard pitch to which all instruments are tuned. The frequency is 440 hertz ( the note A above middle C ). Concord - The word Concord is NOT derived from the word " Chord ". The meaning of " concord " in modern music is to classify groups of harmonic intervals. * Also see harmonic intervals. Coperto - Italian musical term. Written into a piece of music. Covered .i.e.; to mute a drum by covering it with a cloth. Counterpoint - This is a musical term. Used to describe the combination of musical passages, which complement one another when played together on different instruments. * Also see harmony. Coupler - A device which is found inside pipe organs. A coupler connects the keyboards and pedalboard together. The stops from each keyboard can then be used while just one is being played. Superoctave couplers have the effect of sounding one octave higher and suboctave couplers sound a note one octave lower. Crescendo - Italian musical term. Written into a piece of music. Getting louder, Growing, building up to a climax. Crotchet - A musical note. in notation form it is drawn as a filled in circle with a tail. It's value ( length ) is one quarter of a whole note ( semibreve ). Cubase - Professional Sequencing software. Cubase is an industry standard and can be found running on many computers in studios across the world. Any musical instrument with M.I.D.I ( Musical instrument digital interface ) can be recorded and played back without the use of a tape recorder. The way cubase works is to remember the midi messages sent to it and then send these messages back to the musical instrument whenever you want. Cubase is a tapeless form of recording and reproducing electronic music. The real power of cubase however, is the way in which arrangements of music can be made. Cubase audio V.2 allows you to record vocals and acoustic instruments along-side your electronic M.I.D.I arrangements. 8 audio tracks ( for vocal or acoustic recording ) + 16 M.I.D.I tracks !. Another truly powerful software sequencer is E.Magics Logic audio. * Also see M.I.D.I. C.V converter - This is a type of pre - M.I.D.I ( Musical instrument digital interface ) synthesiser interface. The M.I.D.I - c.v converter is a useful device, used to connect pre - M.I.D.I ( old ) synths to M.I.D.I equipment. i.e.: you may have created a great sound using an old monophonic Moog synth, and wish to use it in your music using a sequencer ( cubase ect... ). Many old synth's have a C.V gate input. To convert the M.I.D.I messages being sent from a sequencer to an electronic message which can be understood by an old ( pre M.I.D.I ) synth, an interface box needs to be connected. Such interfaces are made by Philip Rees ltd. Some ( not all ) old ( pre - M.I.D.I ) polyphonic synths may need an internal modification, to allow them to be compatible with M.I.D.I. Philip Rees can advise you on specific pre-M.I.D.I C.V ( Controlled voltage ) converters, as there was never a recognised/standard way ( before M.I.D.I was invented ) to connected old equipment together. Resulting in obscure implementation in the volts per octave department ( sometimes 1, and sometimes ? ). * Also see M.I.D.I. D: Da capo - Italian musical term. Written into a piece of music. A direction to start again from the beginning of the piece. Abbreviation - D.C. Da capo al fine - Italian musical term. Written into a piece of music. A direction to repeat the music from the beginning, until you reach the sign FINE. Da capo dal segno - Italian musical term. Written into a piece of music. A direction to repeat a " marked " section of music, until you reach the sign FINE. Dampfer - German musical term. Written into a piece of music. Mute. Piano Soft pedal. Dance - To move your body rhythmically. Dancing has been an activity practised by people all over the world from ancient times. Primitive dance was a ritual performed by groups of people, moving their bodies with repeated actions to a regular musical beat. Please read accompanying text file to order the full version of The Music Directory 1995 V.01 A - Z D E M O E N D