INDEX:
1. music
2. a piece of music
3. to play music
4. someone who plays music
5. to write music
6. someone who writes music
7. a public performance of music
RELATED WORDS
see also
↑ SING
↑ DANCE
↑ SOUND
↑ TELEVISION/RADIO
↑ PERFORM/PERFORMANCE
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1. music
▷ music /ˈmjuːzɪk/ [uncountable noun]
the sounds made by people singing or playing musical instruments, or the art and skill of writing, playing, or singing these sounds :
▪ What kinds of music do you like?
▪ The music was so loud you couldn’t carry on a conversation.
▪ Would you like to listen to some music?
▪ The Royal College of Music
▪ Did you study music at school?
live music
music that is not recorded
▪ The club has live music every Saturday night.
rock/pop/country/classical etc music
▪ I’ve never been a big fan of country music.
▷ musical /ˈmjuːzɪk ə l/ [adjective usually before noun]
relating to music :
▪ Do you play a musical instrument?
▪ Her teachers told her she had no musical ability whatsoever.
▪ O'Connor uses a wide variety of musical styles in his performances.
▷ note /nəʊt/ [countable noun]
a single musical sound :
▪ It is amazing how expressive she makes each note sound.
▪ Some of the singers had a little trouble with the high notes.
▷ tune /tjuːnǁtuːn/ [countable noun]
the main series of notes in a piece of music - use this especially when you think it is nice to listen to :
▪ The music box plays the tune ‘Send in the Clowns.’
▪ I’ve heard that tune before, but I don’t know the words to the song.
▷ melody /ˈmelədi/ [countable/uncountable noun]
the main series of notes in a piece of music that has many lines being played at the same time :
▪ The song has a simple melody and beautiful lyrics.
▪ Melody is not the central element in Martino’s compositions - rhythm is more important.
▷ harmony /ˈhɑːʳməni/ [countable/uncountable noun]
the chords or lines of music that accompany support the melody :
▪ The harmonies in her symphonies are wonderfully rich.
▪ All first year music students are required to take a class in harmony.
▷ rhythm /ˈrɪð ə m/ [countable/uncountable noun]
a pattern of beats in music, that comes from the arrangement of the notes, the time between them, and the emphasis each note is given :
▪ You need to feel the rhythm of the music in order to dance properly.
▪ The band’s music is known for its fiery Latin rhythms.
▷ beat /biːt/ [singular noun]
the main rhythm that a piece of music has :
▪ Jessica moved her hips to the beat of the music.
▪ Their new song has a good beat that you can dance to.
2. a piece of music
▷ piece/piece of music /piːs, ˌpiːs əv ˈmjuːzɪk/ [countable noun]
an arrangement of musical notes that has been written by someone - use this about music without words :
▪ The CD contains two pieces performed by the Tokyo String Quartet.
▪ It’s difficult to know ahead of time whether an audience will like a new piece of music.
▷ song /sɒŋǁsɔːŋ/ [countable noun]
a short piece of music with words for singing :
▪ That’s a pretty song - where did you learn it?
▪ The song ‘Yesterday’ is one of the most often recorded songs in the world.
▪ In the evenings we’d sit around the campfire and sing songs.
▷ composition /ˌkɒmpəˈzɪʃ ə nǁˌkɑːm-/ [countable noun]
a piece of music - use this when you are considering the way the music is written :
▪ Stone’s composition ‘Idaho’ became a national hit when Benny Goodman recorded it for Columbia.
▪ Zwilich’s flute concerto was nominated for Best Contemporary Classical Composition.
▷ work /wɜːʳk/ [countable noun]
a piece of music, especially a long classical one - use this in written or formal contexts :
▪ The performance began with two of Mozart’s early works.
▪ Handel’s ‘Messiah’ is one of the most majestic musical works ever written.
▷ number /ˈnʌmbəʳ/ [countable noun]
a piece of popular music that forms part of a longer performance :
▪ ‘The show’s not very good.’ ‘We can leave after this number if you want.’
▪ Nell Carter also appeared and performed a couple of upbeat numbers.
3. to play music
▷ play /pleɪ/ [intransitive/transitive verb]
to make music on a musical instrument :
▪ Do you play in an orchestra?
▪ Charles likes to play Celtic music on his flute.
play the piano/trumpet/drums etc
▪ I didn’t know you could play the violin.
▷ perform /pəʳˈfɔːʳm/ [intransitive/transitive verb] formal
to sing or play music in front of people who have come to listen :
▪ She still gets very nervous about performing in public.
▪ The orchestra will be at the Festival Hall tonight, performing a selection of works by Russian composers.
▷ on (the) drums/guitar/keyboards etc /ɒn (ðə) ˈdrʌmz/ [adverb]
playing a particular instrument in a band :
▪ When they perform, Barbara sings and her older sister Suzie is on drums.
▪ The recording features Norman Simmons on piano and Henry Johnson on guitar.
▷ improvise /ˈɪmprəvaɪz/ [intransitive/transitive verb]
to perform music by creating it from your imagination while you play or sing :
▪ You can’t play jazz unless you can improvise.
▪ Mike improvised a little farewell song at the end of the evening.
▷ jam /dʒæm/ [intransitive verb usually in progressive]
to play jazz or rock music with other people in an informal way, without planning what you are going to play :
▪ Some guys are getting together tonight at Scott’s to jam.
jam with
▪ Matthews used to jam with drummer Carter Beauford and saxophonist LeRoi Moore.
jam session
an occasion when a group of musicians jam
▪ All-night jam sessions were common in Kansas City jazz clubs of the 1930s.
▷ play by ear /ˌpleɪ baɪ ˈɪəʳ/ [verb phrase]
to play a song or piece of music from memory without reading the written music :
▪ He never took piano lessons - he just plays by ear.
▪ With the Suzuki method, a child is trained to play by ear at an early age without any written music.
4. someone who plays music
▷ musician /mjuːˈzɪʃ ə nǁmjʊ-/ [countable noun]
someone who plays a musical instrument very well or someone who does this as their job :
▪ Ellen is one of our most talented young musicians.
▪ The group is made up of local musicians who have been performing together for several years.
▷ performer /pəʳˈfɔːʳməʳ/ [countable noun]
someone who sings or plays a musical instrument in order to entertain people :
▪ Most performers feel nervous before they go on stage.
▪ The festival provides an opportunity to hear some fine blues performers at reasonable prices.
▷ player /ˈpleɪəʳ/ [countable noun]
guitar/piano/trumpet etc player
someone who plays a particular musical instrument :
▪ Simpson is a talented singer and piano player.
▪ She sang ‘I’ll Fly Away,’ accompanied by two guitar players.
▷ accompanist /əˈkʌmp ə nɪst, əˈkʌmp ə nəst/ [countable noun]
someone who plays a musical instrument while someone else sings or plays the main tune :
▪ I’d be happy to sing, but I’ll need an accompanist.
▪ Pianist Tommy Flanagan is among the finest accompanists in jazz history.
▷ soloist /ˈsəʊləʊɪst, ˈsəʊləʊəst/ [countable noun]
someone who plays or sings the main part of a piece of music alone, or with a musical group supporting them :
▪ There will be four soloists in tonight’s performance.
▪ Violin soloist Jessica Solano will perform Mozart’s Concerto No. 4.
▷ street musician also busker British /ˈstriːt mjuːˌzɪʃ ə nǁ-mjʊ-, ˈbʌskəʳ/ [countable noun]
someone who plays music in a public place such as a street or railway station, so that people will give them money :
▪ A street musician sat on the other side of the courtyard, banging a drum.
▪ In the summer, buskers fill the town’s streets and public squares.
5. to write music
▷ write /raɪt/ [intransitive/transitive verb]
to write a song or a piece of music :
▪ I wrote the next song for my wife.
▪ an opera written by Verdi
▪ I sit at the piano when I write.
▷ compose /kəmˈpəʊz/ [intransitive/transitive verb]
to write a piece of music, especially classical music :
▪ Glass composed the music for Cocteau’s movie.
▪ a song composed by Schubert
▪ The children will now play some pieces that they composed themselves.
▪ Dario composes for a living.
▷ set/put something to music /ˌset, ˌpʊt something tə ˈmjuːzɪk/ [verb phrase]
to write music so that the words of a play, poem etc can be sung :
▪ The Greek tragedy ‘Elektra’ was set to music by Richard Strauss.
▪ She sat at the piano for hours, putting one of her poems to music.
6. someone who writes music
▷ composer /kəmˈpəʊzəʳ/ [countable noun]
someone who writes music, especially classical music :
▪ Henry Purcell was one of the greatest English composers.
▪ Amelia likes German composers, particularly Wagner.
▷ songwriter /ˈsɒŋˌraɪtəʳǁˈsɔːŋ-/ [countable noun]
someone who writes songs :
▪ Most of Elton John’s early hits were written by songwriter Bernie Taupin.
singer-songwriter
someone who writes songs and sings them
▪ Music on the show is performed by singer-songwriter Vonda Shepard.
7. a public performance of music
▷ concert /ˈkɒnsəʳtǁˈkɑːn-/ [countable noun]
a performance given by musicians :
▪ There’s a free band concert in Reid Park this afternoon.
▪ Amanda has a solo in the school chorus concert this year.
concert of
▪ Various performers will present a concert of Broadway music to benefit AIDS charities.
go to a concert
▪ On Friday we’re going to a concert of modern African music.
▷ go to see /ˌgəʊ tə ˈsiː/ [verb phrase]
to go to see a particular singer or band perform - use this especially about going to see modern popular musicians :
▪ Are you going to see Britney Spears this weekend?
▷ performance /pəʳˈfɔːʳməns/ [countable noun]
when a musician or group of musicians performs a piece of music :
▪ There are no tickets left for this evening’s performance.
performance of
▪ It is the first performance of Berlioz’s Requiem in this city in over 20 years.
live performance
a performance that is not recorded
▪ Have you ever heard a live performance of Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony?
▷ gig /gɪg/ [countable noun] informal
a performance by a musician or group of musicians playing modern popular music or jazz :
▪ We have a gig in L.A. on Thursday.
do/play a gig
perform at a concert
▪ They are doing about 30 gigs on their European tour.
▷ festival /ˈfestɪv ə l, ˈfestəv ə l/ [countable noun]
an event lasting for a few days or weeks each year, in which many different musical groups or singers perform. It takes place in the same place every year :
▪ I first heard them play at the Pittsburgh Jazz Festival.
▪ Are you going to the Glastonbury festival this year?