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H: 1. In the German
musical system,
B
natural, or the
key of
B
natural.
2.
"Hoboken", the cataloguer of Haydn's
works; H numbers are used instead of opus numbers for the
works of Haydn.
Half-Cadence: A
cadence that ends on the
dominant
instead of the tonic. Also called an
imperfect cadence.
Half-Step: The
smallest interval that is commonly used in Western
music. There are 12 half-steps in an
octave.
Hammer
Dulcimer: Wire strings stretched over a
trapezoidal sound box, somewhat similar to the
Zither. The strings are hammered
with a mallet, thus the hammer dulcimer. In Hungary it's called the
Cimbalom.
Hammerflugel: Refers to the
Grand
Piano due to its winged shape. Flugel is German for wing.
Kielflugel refers to
Harpsichord.
Hammer Klavier: This is the term used in the early 19th century for
a Piano.
Hand Bells: Requires a group of players each responsible for two to four
bells. The
bells
are graded in size and
pitch.
Hardanger Fiddle: A traditional Norwegian
fiddle
used to play folksongs and bridal
marches. Its
uniqueness is its four to five sympathetic strings that run under the four
melody strings.
Harmonica: Also known as
the Mouth Organ. Usually hand held, a free reed
instrument,
rectangular in shape. Sound is produced by air passing through graduated reeds
set back into a narrow frame.
Harmonic
Progression: The movement from one
chord to another, usually in terms of
their function.
Harmonic Series:
A series of notes produced above the
fundamental (the
series includes the fundamental) which fall in the
overtones
of that pitch.
Harmonium:
A type of organ or
keyboard
instrument constructed of wood. Foot pedals
operate bellows that create either suction or generate air pressure. It was also
called a reed organ and was a popular substitute for the pipe
organ in churches.
Harmony: 1. The study
of progression, structure, and relationships of
chords.
2. When
pitches are in
agreement, or consonance.
Harp: The harp is an ancient
instrument. It is a chordophone, usually triangular in
shape having anywhere from 1 to 47 strings. The strings are knotted
perpendicular to the soundboard. It is played by strumming or plucking.
Harpsichord: Its shape is similar to that of a
Piano but having a much different sound.
Each string is plucked by a quill plectrum. It is closely related to a
Virginal
or a Spinet and eventually lost popularity after the
Fortepiano became popular
around 1800.
Head Voice: The
upper register of the singing voice.
Heckelphone: Invented in 1904 by Wilhelm Heckel. It has a double reed made of wood with a
large conical bore producing low, rich and hollow sounds.
Heldentenor: A
heroic tenor with a strong, robust singing voice.
Hemiola: The term applied to time values
in the ration of 3:2, e.g. three half notes in place of two dotted half
notes.
Hemitonium: A
half-step.
Heterophony: The
simultaneous performance of two slightly different melodies.
Hi Hat: These are the pair of cymbals you see in a
drum set that are opened and closed
by means of a foot pedal. They are mounted on floor stands and are placed higher
in the
drums in a
horizontal fashion.
Homophony:
Music
in which one voice has the
melody, performed with a
Chordal
accompaniment.
Hunting Horn: A horn used in the chase of a hunt. Used to alert other hunters.
Hurdy Gurdy: This looks like a thick
Violin but rather than using a
bow, a crank turns a
rosined wooden wheel that plays its strings. A
keyboard mechanism provides a
string stop while the strings maintain permanent contact creating the continuous
drone sound. It has the capability of sounding like several
instruments
working
at once.
Hymn: A song, often a
chorale,
written in praise of God, or for a religious congregation.
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