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musical phrase

musical phrase

1 3.4
A short group of notes that sounds complete in a piece of music
  • noun
  • /ˈmjuːzɪkəl freɪz/
  • Specialized
translation icon : frase musical
  • You might give older children a musical phrase and ask them to compose a phrase that completes the musical thought.
  • create a musical phrase
  • perform musical phrases
  • end a musical phrase

Examples

  • Initiate the idea of improvisation by creating responses to musical phrases and familiar songs performed by another individual.

    Academic text (1999)
  • The teacher can finally provide an ostinato over which students can improvise brief musical phrases to create a "music machine."

    Academic text (2009)
  • Teaching students to perform musical phrases can be challenging.

    Academic text (2000)
  • Flow activities assist students in learning to regulate their movement across the beat and throughout a musical phrase.

    Academic text (2014)
  • Explore the melody with students by identifying and performing musical phrases.

    Academic text (2002)
  • In the present study, if an error was placed in a particular musical phrase, one section would play a pitch incorrectly, but other sections with the same musical material would play that pitch as written.

    Academic text (2011)
  • All of these activities can be performed while also coordinating inhalations and exhalations with the musical phrases.

    Academic text (2014)
  • For the non-wind instrumentalist, a sense of breathing helps create a more musical phrase and provides the element of space through the use of rests.

    Academic text (1995)
  • Helping students to understand the relationship between their rhythmic precision and a mood of exhilarating joy, or the feeling of a slow musical phrase when performed with intensity of line and direction, not only makes them better performers but also provides them with a more thoughtful approach to music making and a deeper understanding of how music works.

    Academic text (2009)
  • When teaching music, it is important to highlight the significance of a musical phrase in conveying emotions.

Synonyms

riff
vsmusical phrase
51 5.8

A short repeated musical phrase played under a solo

is a complete standalone musical thought not just a repeating backing pattern
phrase
vsmusical phrase
  • Specialized
12 5.6

A short group of notes that forms a musical idea

is the standard name for the same complete musical unit
motif
vsmusical phrase
  • Specialized
3 6.7

A short musical idea that repeats and is changed in a piece

is a single complete thought rather than a repeatedly developed idea
melodic phrase
vsmusical phrase
  • Specialized
1 4.9

A short group of notes that sounds like one musical idea

is about a complete musical thought rather than only a melody unit
musical passage
vsmusical phrase
  • Specialized
3.7

A short part of a piece of music with its own sound or idea

is a complete musical thought rather than any short section

How Complete

movement
  • Specialized
24 7.4
theme
  • Specialized
173 3.4
period
2.1
musical phrase
  • Specialized
1 3.4
motif
  • Specialized
3 6.7

Surface Forms

Morphology

musical + phrase

The compound is a straightforward adjective + noun composition: 'musical' (related to music) modifies 'phrase' (a short unit), so the phrase denotes a short musical unit or thought. This meaning is directly predictable from the constituents and follows common cross-linguistic patterns, so a B1 learner who knows both words will understand it.

Etymology

Musical phrase comes from the idea of music as speech: a phrase is like a short 'sentence' in sound that makes one complete idea. That's why musical phrase means 'a short, complete musical thought'.