Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

118 results found

Agnus Dei

(Encyclopedia)Agnus Dei ăgˈnəs dēˈī, änˈyo͝os dāˈē [key] [Lat.], the Lamb of God, i.e., Jesus. The lamb of the Passover sacrifice is said to prefigure the crucifixion. Isaiah calls the expected Messiah ...

unison

(Encyclopedia)unison, in music, tones identical in pitch produced by two or more parts or voices. In popular usage a vocal composition is said to be sung in unison even though some of the voices are separated from ...

Ameling, Elly

(Encyclopedia)Ameling, Elly (Elisabeth Sara Ameling), 1933–, Dutch soprano. Although she has sung opera, she is noted for her sensitive interpretations of French and German art songs, particularly the lieder of S...

Gittith

(Encyclopedia)Gittith gĭtˈĭth [key], in the titles of Psalms 8, 81, and 84, apparently the name of the tune to which the psalms were to be sung or instrument on which they were to be played. ...

hallel

(Encyclopedia)hallel həlālˈ, hălˈĕl [key] [Heb.,=praise], in Judaism, Psalms 113 to 118, sung every morning of Hanukkah, at the Passover service, and at the morning service of most major Jewish holidays as an...

Paean

(Encyclopedia)Paean pēˈən [key], Paean was an epithet for Apollo, the healer. The paean, a hymn of praise to Apollo and often to other gods, was sung as a prayer for safety or deliverance at battles and other im...

Festa, Costanzo

(Encyclopedia)Festa, Costanzo kōstänˈtsō fĕsˈtä [key], c.1490–1545, Italian composer. An early madrigalist, Festa combined Flemish and Italian influences in his works and in turn influenced Palestrina. His...

ballad opera

(Encyclopedia)ballad opera, in English drama, a play of comic, satiric, or pastoral intent, interspersed with songs, most of them sung to popular airs. First and best was The Beggar's Opera (1728) by John Gay. The ...

Magnificat

(Encyclopedia)Magnificat măgnĭfˈĭkăt [key] [Lat.,=magnifies], song of the Virgin Mary, beginning “Magnificat anima mea Dominum” [my soul doth magnify the Lord], from Luke 1.46–55. It is the daily vesper ...

Chinese examination system

(Encyclopedia)Chinese examination system, civil service recruitment method and educational system employed from the Han dynasty (206 b.c.–a.d. 220) until it was abolished by the Ch'ing dowager empress Tz'u Hsi in...