ration: Fig. 79. SCHUMANN]

214. When the upper three voices of a four-voice composition are written
close together (the soprano and tenor never appearing more than an
octave apart), the term _close position_ is applied. But when the upper
voices are not written close together, the term _open position_ is
applied.

215. By _transposition_ is meant playing, singing, or writing a piece of
music in some other key than the original. Thus _e.g._, if a song
written in the key of G is too high in range for a soloist, the
accompanist sometimes _transposes_ it to a lower key (as F or E), thus
causing all tones to sound a second or a third lower than they did when
the same song was played in the original key.

CHAPTER XIX

MISCELLANEOUS TERMS

_A battuta_--with the beat; in strict rhythm. [Transcriber's Note:
Corrected error "battua" in original.]

_A quatre mains_--for four hands.

_Accompagnamento_--the accompaniment.

_All'unisono_--in unison.

_Alla breve_--2/2 measure.

The term _alla breve_ is also sometimes used as a tempo
indication, to show a rate of speed so great that a half-note
has a beat, _i.e._, only two beats in a measure--hence twice as
fast as before.

_Alla capella_--usually the same as a capella (see p. 76, Sec. 162) but
sometimes _used_ in the same sense as _alla breve_.

_Alla marcia_--in march style.

_Alla zingara_--in gypsy style.

_Alt_--see _in alt_.

_Alto_--the lowest female voice. Range approximately g-e''.

The word _alto_ is derived from the Latin word _altus_, meaning
_high_, the term being formerly applied to the highest male
voice, which originally sang (and still does so in many male
choirs) the alto part.

_Animato come sopra_--in animated style as above.

_Antiphony_ (_antiphonal_)--the responsive singing of two choirs,
usually one at either end of the church, or at either side of the
chancel.

_Arabesque_--an instrumental composition in light, somewhat fantastic
style.

The term _arabesque_ is derived from the word _Arabian_, and
was originally applied to a style of decoration.

_Arioso_--in the style of an air or song, _i.e._, a flowing, vocal
style.

_Attacca_--attack the next division without any pause.

_Attacca subito_--same as _attacca_.

_Attacca subito il seguente_--attack at once that which follows.
[Transcriber's Note: In last 3 entries, corrected misspelling "attaca"
in original.]

_Atta