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Music Terms Glossary - N
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

nationalism A nineteenth-century political movement that led in music to the frequent use of national folk songs, styles, and historical subjects.

neoclassicism A twentieth-century movement characterized by a selective and eclectic revival of the formal proportions and economical means of eighteenth century music.

neumatic In plainchant, a style in which each syllable of text receives several notes.

neume The stemless symbols used in medieval sources to notate plainchant (see Figure 4.12).

nocturne ("night piece") A nineteenth-century character piece for piano.

non-imitative counterpoint Same as unequal-voiced counterpoint.

non-legato The slight separation of adjacent notes.

note (1) A sound with a specific pitch and duration; (2) in musical notation, the symbol (e.g., J) for such a sound; (3) a single key on a keyboard.

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