De boventoon
Example: In het jazzconcert nam de saxofoon de boventoon over.
Definition
"De boventoon" in music refers to the dominant or prevailing tone that stands out above others in a piece, often shaping the overall mood or character. For example, in jazz, a saxophone may take "de boventoon" by leading the melody or theme prominently.
Etymology
The term "de boventoon" comes from Dutch, combining "boven" meaning 'above' and "toon" meaning 'tone' or 'note.' It literally means 'the overtone' or 'the upper tone,' reflecting the idea of a tone that rises above others. Did you know? It originally described acoustic phenomena where higher harmonics accompany a fundamental tone.
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"De boventoon" appears in the Vocaplus list "Dutch - Music - (B2) - set 1", containing 100 commonly used words.
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the overtone