Dictionary of Music - Birding America

transpose 435tonic accentSee under ACCENT.tonic major See under KEY, def. 3.tonic minor See under KEY, def. 3.tonic sol-fa (ton′ ik sōl fä′). A method ofsolmization developed in England and widely usedthere since about 1840. The syllables doh, ray, me,fah, soh, lah, and te, are used for the degrees of thescale, doh standing for the tonic (first note) in anykey, fah for the subdominant (fourth note), and soon. (This differs from the French system of solmization,in which ut, which is substituted for doh,always stands for C, no matter what the key.) Thevowel e is used for sharps (in the key of C, de meansC-sharp) and the vowel a for flats (da is C-flat). Innotating (writing music) only the initials of the syllablesare used (d, r, etc.). See also SOLMIZATION.topAnother word for BELLY.Torelli (tô rel′ē), Giuseppe (joo — sep′e),1658–1709. An Italian composer and violinistwho is remembered as one of the earliest composersof the concerto grosso and solo violin concerto andthe most important member of the BOLOGNASCHOOL. He studied and lived most of his life inBologna, except for some years spent in Germanyand Vienna. His concerti grossi were the first to bepublished (in 1709), although he was not the first touse the form. In addition Torelli wrote six solo violinconcertos, also published in 1709.tosto (tôs′tô) Italian. A direction to performquickly, in a hurried manner. See also PIUTTOSTO.total serialismTotenmesse (tō′tən mes′′ə).for REQUIEM MASS.See under SERIAL MUSIC.The German termtouch 1 The technique of pressing down the keysin a keyboard instrument, such as the piano or harpsichord.In pianos, heavier touch produces loudertones; in harpsichords and clavichords, volume(loudness) does not change with the weight of touch,but tone quality does. 2 The looseness or tightness ofthe key mechanism in a keyboard instrument; apiano with a heavy touch requires strong finger pressureto be played.touche, sur la (sYr lA too — sh′) French. A directionto play over the fingerboard (of violins, violas,etc.), producing a FLAUTATO tone.Tourte (too rt) bow See under BOW.tpt.An abbreviation for TRUMPET.tr. An abbreviation for TRILL. It often appears inscript (tr ).tracker actionSee under ORGAN.Tract In the Roman Catholic rite, a part of theProper of the Mass that is substituted for the Alleluiaduring certain festivals of the church calendar, suchas Lent. The Tracts are among the oldest portions ofGregorian chant, believed to date back to the fourthor fifth century. Their music is in either the secondor the eighth church mode (see CHURCH MODES), arestriction not found in most other chants, and theirtexts are from the Book of Psalms.tragédie lyrique (trA zhā dē′ lē rēk′) French.See under LULLY, JEAN-BAPTISTE; OPERA.tranquillo (trän kwē′lō) Italian. Also, French,tranquille (träN kē′y ə ). A direction to perform in aquiet, calm manner.transcription 1 See ARRANGEMENT, def. 1.2 Copying a work from a live or recorded performanceto written notation. 3 A recording made especiallyfor broadcasting.transitionFORM.See BRIDGE, def. 2; see also SONATAtranspose To write or perform a musical work ina key other than that in which it was originally written.Such a key change, or transposition, is nearlyalways made in order to accommodate the range of a