Dictionary of Music - Birding America

dulcimer 117early electronic composers with simple equipment,has been greatly assisted by the development ofmultitrack recorders. On an eight-track recorder, forexample, each voice-part of an octet can be recordedon its own track, either at different times or simultaneouslyin isolation (that is, each performer listensto the others over headphones while playing his orher own part). If one performer makes a mistake,only that track needs to be rerecorded. After all theparts are recorded, the various tracks are mixeddown to a stereo (two-track) tape that gives the illusionthat all were played simultaneously. Dubbingalso permits a single performer to play several parts.An extreme instance is Daniel Werts’s Symphony forLarge Ensemble (1984), in which the composer himselfplays every instrument: four oboes, two Englishhorns, two bass clarinets, flutes, electric guitar,piano, synthesizers, trumpets, and chromatic windchimes.A major problem in early dubbing was tape hiss.When a tape is recorded, some noise is generated bythe interaction of the recording head with the tape.As each successive track is recorded, tape hissbuilds up at a geometric rate; thus, 16-track tapegenerates 256 times as much noise as one track. Thisproblem eventually was alleviated by the introductionof DOLBY.Dudelsack (doo — ′dəl zäk) German. See underBAGPIPE.due, a (ä doo — ′e) Italian: “for two.” 1 An indicationthat a part written on one staff is to be played bytwo instruments or two groups of instrumentstogether, for example, the first and second violinsplaying in unison, or, sometimes, DIVISI (the scoremakes clear which is meant). 2 An indication that acomposition or section is written for two voiceparts.due cordeSee under CORDA.duet A composition for two performers, with orwithout accompaniment, in which the soloists areequal in importance. —vocal duet A compositionfor two singers, with or without piano accompaniment.—piano duet A composition for twopianists, playing either on one piano (often marked“piano, four hands”) or on two pianos. However, theterm duopianists nearly always means two pianistsplaying on two instruments. See also PIANO DUET.—instrumental duet A composition for two instrumentalists,for example, a sonata for two violins,which may or may not have piano accompaniment.Furthermore, the instruments need not be the same;a sonata for flute and oboe, for example, is alsotermed an instrumental duet. See also DUO.Dufay (dY fä ē′), Guillaume (gē yōm′), c.1400–1474. The principal composer of the BUR-GUNDIAN SCHOOL. He was among the first of manynorthern composers to work for long periods in Italy,but his later life was spent in France, especiallyCambrai, to which he attracted so many students thatit became an important musical center. AlthoughDufay wrote music in all the forms of his time, hewas most famous for his motets, cantus firmusMasses, and chansons. He was probably the firstcomposer to use a secular tune as the basis for aMass (see CANTUS FIRMUS). His chansons, songs inthree and sometimes four voice-parts, were in thestandard forms of French poetry, the virelai, ballade,and rondeau, but the last was by far his favoriteform. Dufay helped develop a technique of threepartwriting that gave harmonic formulas for thevoice-parts (see FAUXBOURDON, def. 1).Dukas (dY kA′), Paul (pôl), 1865–1935. AFrench composer who achieved lasting fame with asingle work, his scherzo for orchestra, L′Apprentisorcier (“The Sorcerer’s Apprentice”). A friend ofnumerous notable composers (among them D’Indyand Debussy), an influential music critic, and theteacher of such important musicians as Piston andMessiaen, Dukas is remembered also for his impressionistopera Ariane et Barbe-bleue (“Ariadne andBluebeard”) and a number of instrumental works.dulcianAnother name for CURTAL.dulcimer (dul′si mûr). A stringed instrument ofthe Middle Ages, similar to a PSALTERY but with aflat, shallow soundbox, often three-sided but existingin a wide variety of shapes, over which ten or