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transposition

transposition

7.5
Changing the key of a piece of music to make notes higher or lower
  • noun
  • /ˌtrænspəˈzɪʃən/
  • Specialized
translation icon : transposición (musical)
  • The composer used transposition to shift the entire piece from C major to D major, making it easier for the singers.

Examples

  • However, computers have made the task of transposition as simple as pushing a button.

    Academic text (1997)
  • In most schools, however, the sheet music for bands consists mostly of transpositions of folk songs, marches, or patriotic songs arranged for instruments performing in unison.

    Academic text (1997)
  • Synthesizers, combined with computer music printing software, allow for immediate notation and easy transposition.

    Academic text (1997)
  • Exercises involving isolated key signatures and intervals will likely not yield the meaningful learning that can occur when working with tunes and transposition.

    Academic text (2014)
  • The electronic synthesizer was the first innovation to loosen the stranglehold of notation by enabling automatic transposition.

    Academic text (1997)
  • Be prepared to execute simple transpositions, perform proficiently on an instrument, play the piano, and sight-read new music during music lessons and rehearsals.

    Academic text (2004)
  • The fundamentals course should cover intervals, chords, scales, rhythm, meter, melody, transposition, musical terms, and melodic and rhythmic dictation.

    Academic text (1993)
  • During a music lesson, the teacher explained the concept of transposition and demonstrated how to play the same melody in different keys.

  • Learning transposition can help musicians adapt songs for different instruments without losing their original melody.

Compounds

matrix transposition
  • Specialized
6.7

You switch the rows and columns of a matrix

How Far

transposition
  • Specialized
7.5
keyed
  • Specialized
6.7

Surface Forms

transposition singular

Morphology

transposition = position (transparent) = trans + position

In music, 'transposition' means changing the pitch/key, which maps directly to 'changing the position' of notes on a scale.

Etymology

Transposition comes from trans- 'across' and position 'place', so it means moving notes to a new place, and in music a transposition shifts all the notes up or down to change the key so a piece fits a singer or instrument.