Chromatisch
Example: De violist gebruikte chromatische toonladders voor een expressief effect.
Definition
"Chromatisch" is an adjective used in music to describe scales, melodies, or harmonies that include notes outside the standard diatonic scale, typically involving all twelve pitches of the octave. For example, chromatic scales progress by semitones, creating a distinct expressive effect.
Etymology
The word "chromatisch" comes from the Greek 'chrōmatikos,' meaning 'of color.' It was adopted into Dutch through Latin and Germanic influences, reflecting the idea of 'colorful' or 'colored' tones in music. Did you know? The term highlights the vividness and variety that chromatic notes add compared to diatonic ones.
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"Chromatisch" appears in the Vocaplus list "Dutch - Music - (C2) - set 1", containing 99 commonly used words.
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