figured bass

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figured bass

 (bās)
n.

[From the numerals written underneath the notes.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

figured bass

(beɪs)
n
(Music, other) a shorthand method of indicating a thorough-bass part in which each bass note is accompanied by figures indicating the intervals to be played in the chord above it in the realization
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

con•tin•u•o

(kənˈtɪn yuˌoʊ)

n., pl. -tin•u•os.
a musical keyboard accompaniment in unrealized form consisting of a series of bass notes whose chordal harmonies are indicated by numerals.
Also called figured bass .
[1715–25; < Italian: literally, continuous]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun1.figured bass - a bass part written out in full and accompanied by numbers to indicate the chords to be played
bass part, bass - the lowest part in polyphonic music
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
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References in periodicals archive
We still connect with this as well as dealing with critics, noisy audiences, having to write out figured bass in very large scores, and performing on different types and quality of harpsichords and keyboard instruments.
The piano parts include figured bass indications that reflect the harmonic plethora of written passing-tone accidentals, but which are really not necessary given the simple level of the accompaniments--although perhaps could be of use if accompanying on the guitar (not suggested).
Similarly, Crawford chooses to include the figured bass from the engraved score throughout, even where chordal continuo would not have been heard at the Opera: in dance pieces, the overture, and many choruses.
The cello part is written as a true continuo part: it consists of a single bass line with figured bass throughout.
The final section includes summaries of special topics like musical calligraphy, the harmonic series, nonharmonic tones, four-part writing, figured bass, harmonization, cadence and phrase structure, motives, sequences, textures, counterpoint, form, and instrumental ranges and transpositions.
It was only after my return from Basle, where I studied harpsichord and figured bass with Jorg-Anderas Botticher and Jesper B.
Each volume contains a Foreword containing information about the composer and his works, some editorial notes on the music itself, the texts, translations (where pertinent), a full score with minimally realized figured bass, a continuo part, and a full score with figured bass line only for those keyboard players who are comfortable realizing figured bass at sight.
In the event, Mr Justice Patten, who had been required to get to grips with such esoteric baroque matters as the 'figured bass' and even what was in front of organist David Ponsford at the recording session and whether he actually played it, dismissed this approach.
Also featured on that occasion were three of the nine sonatas for a single instrument and figured bass, K81 and 91, performed on the Baroque flute, a somewhat bland medium of realization, and K90, more effectively rendered on the relatively robust violin.
(See, for instance, Morris 1994.) We introduce here a method of using figured bass so as to produce a generalization of the angle measure.
The figured bass part has been standardized but no new figures added.
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