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G: The
key of G.
G Clef: A
clef that indicates which line represents G on a
staff, as opposed to a
C
clef, or an F clef.
Gallant: An 18th
century compositional style that was light, elegant, non-contrapuntal,
and highly ornamented.
Gamelan: Important
music of Indonesia. A style of orchestra that uses various types of
Gongs,
bowed and plucked strings,
Flute or
Oboe and Drums and is primarily used
to accompany religious ceremonies. Two sets of
instruments are tuned to two
different scales.
German Sixth Chord:
An augmented sixth chord, which contains a
flat
third from the
tonic.
Gig: A job for a musician.
Giocoso: (Ita) Playful.
Gittern:
Refers to a
medieval
Guitar. The large
Guitar-like structure was carved from a
single piece of wood with a hole pierced behind the
fingerboard for the player
to hold with his thumb. The bridged strings attached to a button at the bottom.
Giubilante: (Ita)
Exultant, jubilant.
Glass Harmonica: In 18th century Italy the glass harmonica was very popular. Actually called
musical glasses. They are a set of up to 26 drinking glasses filled to various
levels with water to reach the desired
pitch. They are then played by rubbing
wet a finger around the edge.
Glissando: Gliss. The rapid
scale
achieved by sliding the nail of the thumb or third
finger over the white keys of the Piano. Glissando is commonly used in playing
the Harp. For
bowed
instruments glissando indicates a flowing,
unaccented
playing of a passage.
Glockenspiel:
Also referred to as a Clarillon. Constructed by a set of steel bars that are
hit with a mallet to produce
bell like sounds. There are
two forms. The
marching
band form is
Lyre-like shape and held upright. The mallet style is laid out in a
keyboard
form like a Xylophone.
Gloria:
"Glory". In the Mass, the second part of the
ordinary.
Golden Section:
A mathematical proportion where the ratio between a small section and a larger
section is equal to the ratio between the larger section and both sections put
together. Used by many 20th century composers, especially Bela
Bartok, to determine the point of climax for a given work.
Gong: A
gong is a large circular metal plate usually suspended from a frame to assist
with resonation of its sound. In orchestra, its called tam-tam but the gong's
only difference is having a convex circular nucleus or raised central boss in
the plate's middle.
Gong Chimes: They consist of several tuned
Gongs that are supported in a frame so that the
player can reach each Gong.
Grace Note: A
note, or
notes that are played quickly, usually before the beat. See
ornaments.
Grand Opera:
Opera
on a large scale, usually entirely sung, in contrast to
comic
opera.
Grand pause: A rest for the entire
ensemble.
Grand piano: A
Piano
with a winglike
shape and a horizontal frame, strings, and soundboard.
Grand Staff: The
combination of a staff
line notated in treble clef
with one notated in bass clef. Used primarily in
scoring for Piano, and other
keyboard
instruments, this
staff
is also sometimes used to
score vocal works, such as
hymns.
Grave: Slow, solemn.
Grazia: Grace. Con grazia, with grace.
Grazioso: (Ita)
Graceful.
Gregorian Chant: A
body of chants of the Roman Catholic Church, most of which are part of two
liturgical rites, the
Mass and the Offices. Origins
traditionally are ascribed to the period of Pope Gregory I (590-604).
Grosso, grosse:
(Ita) Great, large
Guitar: A universal
term for the popular stringed instruments from Spain (but dating back to the
Greek Kithara), with a large, flat-backed sound box,
Violin-like
curved shape, a fretted neck, and six strings.
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