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downbeat
(redirected from downbeats)

   Also found in: Wikipedia, Hutchinson 0.37 sec.
down·beat  (dounbt)
n.
1. Music
a. The downward stroke made by a conductor to indicate the first beat of a measure.
b. The first beat of a measure.
2. Informal A period of stagnation or inactivity.
adj.
Cheerless; pessimistic.

downbeat
Adjective
Informal
1. depressed or gloomy: she was in one of her downbeat moods
2. casual and restrained: the chairman's statement was decidedly downbeat
Noun
Music the first beat of a bar
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.downbeat - the first beat of a musical measure (as the conductor's arm moves downward)
musical rhythm, rhythm, beat - the basic rhythmic unit in a piece of music; "the piece has a fast rhythm"; "the conductor set the beat"

downbeat (Informal)
adjective 1. low-key, muted, subdued, sober, sombre
adjective 2. gloomy, negative, depressed, pessimistic, unfavourable << OPPOSITE cheerful
Translations
Spanish downbeat [ˈdaunbiːt] n (MUS) → compás m
adj (= gloomy) → pesimista

French downbeat [ˈdaunbiːt] n (Mus) → temps frappé
adjsombre, négatif/ive

German downbeat [ˈdaunbiːt] down n (Mus) → erster betonter Taktteil m
Italian downbeat [ˈdaunbiːt] n (MUS) → tempo in battere
adj (col) → volutamente distaccato/a

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Atwater Village Street Festival: local entertainment by The Downbeats, cowboy chef Layne Wootten, arts and crafts, classic car club The Golden Oldies of Glendale, noon to 4 p.
This practice technique establishes the student's security in starting a work on downbeats of measures.
The alternation between "hot" and "cool" movement creates a flickering level of visual surprise as movement accents alternate between landing hard on clear downbeats and moving freely on the upbeats that separate them.
 
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