Dictionary of Music - Birding America

sixty-fourth note British, hemidemi-semiquaver.A note, , equal in time value (lasting as long as)one sixty-fourth of a whole note. Sixty-four sixtysixty-fourthnote 383to thirteen sympathetic strings, each tuned to a differentpitch, which vibrate in sympathy with themelody and drone strings. The tuning of the sitar isadjusted to fit the particular RAGA being performed.The player plucks the main strings with a plectrumworn on the forefinger and occasionally strums thesympathetic strings as well. (For a similar instrumentplayed mainly in southern India, see VINA.)site compositionSee SONIC ENVIRONMENT.Sitzprobe (zits′prō′′be) German. A rehearsal ofan opera or other staged musical production forsingers and orchestra but without stage action.Six, Les (lā sēs) French: “the six.” A group of sixFrench composers who, about 1916, formed a loosebond under the leadership of Erik SATIE. They wereLouis Durey (1888–1979), Arthur HONEGGER, DariusMILHAUD, Germaine Tailleferre (1892–1983),Georges AURIC, and Francis POULENC. Toward theend of World War I they joined forces in opposingthe impressionist style of Debussy (see IMPRESSION-ISM), supporting instead a returns clarity, simplicity,and wit. Their spokesman was Jean Cocteau.Despite agreeing on basic ideas and producing anumber of works collectively, they soon went on topursue their own individual styles of composition.six-five chord The first inversion of a seventhchord (see INVERSION, def. 1).six-four chord The second inversion of a triad(see INVERSION, def. 1).sixteenth note British, semiquaver. A note, ,equal in time value (lasting as long as) one-sixteenthof a whole note. Thus, sixteen sixteenth notes equalone whole note, eight sixteenth notes equal one halfnote, four sixteenth notes equal one quarter note,and two sixteenth notes equal one eighth note. Whensixteenth notes are written in succession, their flagsare joined together by double crossbars, called doublebeams: = = .sixteenth rest A rest, , indicating a silence lastingthe same length of time as a sixteenth note.sixth Also, major sixth. The interval made up ofthe first and sixth tones (in rising order of pitches)in any major or minor scale, for example, C–Ain the scale of C major (do and la in solmizationsyllables). —augmented sixth The interval onehalf tone larger than a major sixth, such as C♭–A orC–A♯ . —minor sixth The interval one half tonesmaller than a major sixth, such as C♯ –A or C–A ♭.sixth chord Also, six-three chord. The first inversionof the triad (see INVERSION, def. 1). Sixthchords can occur on any degree (note) of the scale.—Neapolitan sixth The first inversion of the triadon the flatted supertonic, so called because it wasfrequently used during the eighteenth century by agroup of composers working in Naples, Italy (aswell as by others). In the key of C major the flattedsupertonic is D-flat; the triad on D-flat is D♭–F–A♭;the first inversion of that triad (the Neapolitan sixth)is F–A♭–D♭. —augmented sixth A sixth chord thatcontains, in addition to a third, an augmented sixth(a sixth one half tone larger than a major sixth; seeunder SIXTH). The augmented sixth was frequentlyused throughout the nineteenth century. There arethree principal varieties, distinguished from oneanother by the notes of the chord. They are known asItalian sixth, German sixth, and French sixth (allthree are shown in the accompanying example, inthe key of C major); the reason for the names is notknown. —added sixth A triad with a sixth addedto it (see ADDED SIXTH). —Landini sixth Seeunder LANDINI CADENCE.six-three chordfig. 222 p/u from p. 400fig. 223 p/u from p. 400Another name for SIXTH CHORD.