Dictionary of Music - Birding America

Victoria, Tomás Luis de 459which are struck with beaters. Under each bar hangsa metal tube, which acts as a resonator, strengtheningthe vibrations of the bar. Each resonator tube isalso equipped with a small paddle-shaped fan. Thefans, which are made to turn by an electric motor,fig. 258 p/u from p. 480alternately open and close the tops of the resonatortubes, thus producing a vibrato (wavering of pitch)in the sounds produced. In addition, the instrumenthas a pedal-operated damping mechanism, whichcan silence a note or chord when a new note orchord is to be played. Some vibraharps are alsoequipped with electronic amplifiers to strengthen thesound still more.The vibraharp has a range of three octaves, theexact range varying with different makes of instrument.Although it was first used only for popularmusic and jazz, the vibraharp gradually attractedsome serious composers who admired its sweettone, harplike broken chords, and other specialeffects. The first important serious work calling forvibraharp was Berg’s opera Lulu. Milhaud wrote aConcerto for marimba, vibraphone, and orchestra(1949); Messiaen and Stockhausen are among theother composers who have used it. Outstanding jazzvibraharpists include Lionel Hampton, Red Norvo,and Gary Burton.vibrato (vē brä′tō) Italian. 1 A slight waveringin pitch, occurring so quickly that it resembles avibration and sounds like a single pitch. 2 Instringed instruments (violins, cellos, lutes, etc.)vibrato is produced by rocking a finger veryquickly back and forth while it is pressing down(stopping) a string. Formerly used only to obtain aneffect of great emotion, vibrato today is used bystring players on virtually all notes held longenough to permit it. 3 In some wind instrumentsvibrato can be obtained by manipulating the breath,rapidly alternating between greater and less windpressure. To do so wind players use the diaphragm,throat, or, with reed instruments, even the jaw. 4 Inthe clavichord, vibrato is produced by repeatedlypressing a finger against a key without ever releasingit entirely; the effect, generally known by theGerman term Bebung, is caused by slightly varyingthe tension of the string for that key. (See alsoCLAVICHORD.) 5 In the organ, vibrato is producedby a special stop called the tremulant, whichquickly increases and decreases the wind supply tothe pipes. 6 In singing, vibrato is the natural pulsationof the singing tone. A moderate vibrato insinging can be very effective; too much vibrato,however, sounds like poor intonation (singing offpitch), and, in fact, it frequently is caused by poorvoice control.Victoria (vik tôr′ē ä), Tomás Luis de (tō mäs loo —ēs′ də), c. 1548–1611. Also, Vittoria. A Spanishcomposer who is remembered for his outstandingchurch music, including Masses, motets, and hymns,as well as two famous Passions. Along with Palestrina,under whom he may have studied, Victoria isconsidered one of the great masters of the lateRenaissance. Victoria began his musical studies inSpain but he soon went to Rome. There he wasorganist and choir director in a number of churches.He also became a priest. Several collections of hisworks, published in Italy, were well received, butabout 1581 Victoria decided to return to Spain,where he remained until his death. Unlike most Italiancomposers of his time, Victoria wrote no madrigals,nor any other secular (nonreligious) music.However, some of his motets, with five or six voiceparts,are as intensely expressive as many madrigals(see MADRIGAL, def. 2). Outstanding among Victoria’sworks are his Christmas motet, O magnum mysterium(“Oh, Great Mystery”), two Passions (whichare still performed during Holy Week in the Sistine