Rétrograde



Example: Le mouvement rétrograde des notes crée un effet musical fascinant.

Definition


"Rétrograde" in music refers to the technique where a sequence of notes is played backward, creating a mirrored melodic effect. This process reverses the original order of the notes, often used to add complexity or interest to a musical composition.

Translations


  • retrograde
  • retrógrado
  • retrograde
  • retrògrad
  • rückläufig

Etymology


The word "rétrograde" comes from the Latin roots 'retro,' meaning 'backward,' and 'gradus,' meaning 'step.' It literally means 'to step backward.' Did you know this term has been adopted in music to describe playing notes in reverse order, reflecting the idea of moving backward through a sequence?

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"Rétrograde" appears in the Vocaplus list "", containing 99 commonly used words.
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