monodia

See Monodie. (mo-no-de'-a) It. n. 1. To string an instrument. 2. To tune or raise the pitch of an monodic (mo-nod'-ik) instrument. A solo; a composition for one voice. 3. To put an instrument together, Monodie (mon-6-de) Fr. and Ger n. to set it up. 1. A monody; a funeral oration. A montre (mofl-tra) Fr. part. composition for a single voice. The Literally, shown: a term applied to term originally applied in Italy to the pipes placed at the front of the solos, with instrumental accompaniorgan, ment in opera and oratorio about 1600, before which time solos did not montre d'orgue (mon-tra. d'org) Fr. The row of pipes at the front of exist in large works. the organ. 2._ The modern meaning is a com- Moorish drum position wherein the melody is of A tambourine. chief importance and the other parts serve as accompaniment. In instru- Moral it a ten (mo-ral-I-ta'-ten) Ger. n. mental music its development is found moralites moralities (mo-ra-le-ta') Eng. n. Fr. n. in the suite or symphony where ac- A later development of the mystery companied melody plays an imp or and miracle plays, first performed in tant part. 3. It was earliest applied to church the early half of the Ffteenth Censolos. tury and continuing until the close of the Sixteenth. The characters were monodrarna (mon-o-dra'-ma) virtues, vices and various allegorical monodrame (men-o-dram') personages, such as Good Deeds, A musical drama in which only one actor Riches, Death. Later writers intro monody appears, duced historical, instead of abstract characters; for example, Aristides^ in A style of composition in which the one play stands for abstract justice. melody part predominates over the other parts which serve as its ac- Numerous contend for con persons the trol over mankind, virtues usually comp an i ment. It began in Italy coming out victorious. The object of about 1600 in the form of vocal solo the plays was to teach moral le ons 359 340 moralities Morris dance and to present political questions for as the mordent except that the rapid the consideration of the people. The alteration is with the note on the next comedy element was supplied by the degree above the principal Devil, or Vice, whose coarse jokes Written Played and horse-play kept the audience amused. A good example of the morality play is Everyman, which has recently been revived and presented in England and America. Its sign is the sign of the mordent without the cro stroke. Also called r n 6dLT' morbidezza Softne ; smoothne ; (mor-bi-ded'-za) It. n. mellowne ; the pa ing shake. See also mordent, delicacy: with very great delicacy, mordent, Italian morceau (mor-s6) Fr. n. See Italian mordent, A portion; piece; bit: a choice and mordente (mor-den'-te) It. adj. select extract from a composition; an See mordent. especially fine phrase or pa age. roorendo (mo-ren'-do) It. adj. morceau Dying away; growing fainter and Fr. de genre (mor-so' du zhaiir) fainter; a direction to gradually soften A bit of description; a characteristic and slacken the pace of voices or in piece. struments. Abbr. mor. morceau d'ensemble (mor-so' dafimoresca (m5-res'-ka) It. n. called the sanbl) Fr. The Morris dance; also A part for the whole: a piece har- Moorish dance, as it is supposed to monized or arranged for several have originated with the Moors. It voices, was a lively dance accompanied by