Example: The retrograde in the composition reversed the melody elegantly.
Definition
"The retrograde" in music refers to a compositional technique where a sequence of notes or a melody is played backward, creating a mirrored version of the original tune. It is often used to add variation and complexity to a piece.
The term "the retrograde" comes from the Latin word 'retrogradus,' meaning 'moving backward.' In music, it was adopted to describe the technique of reversing a melody, reflecting the literal meaning of moving back or backward in sequence.
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"The retrograde" appears in the Vocaplus list "English - Music - (C2) - set 1", containing 99 commonly used words.
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