glissandos
Smooth pitch slides
Glissandos is the plural of glissando, a musical technique of sliding rapidly through a series of consecutive notes.
On a piano, a glissando sweeps across the keys; on a trombone, the slide creates it; on strings, a finger glides along the fingerboard.
The effect suggests fluid, continuous motion rather than distinct pitches: The harpist's glissandos cascaded through the finale.
Moves smoothly across surface
- portamentoSeamless pitch transition
- sweepsUses a broom
- runsMoves fast on foot
- chromaticRelating to color
ascending · descending · fingering · keyboard · strings · harp · pedal · continuous
Plucked orchestral strings
- stringsThin flexible lines
- tromboneSlide-operated brass instrument
- timpaniTunable orchestral percussion
- celestePale blue tint
vibraphone · xylophone · marimba · glockenspiel · violin · cello · harmonics · bowing
Strikingly expressive or sudden
- sweepingExtensive and far-reaching
- etherealDelicate beyond earthly measure
- dreamyVague and pleasantly distracted
- climacticRelating to the peak
tension · release · flourish · embellishment · ornamentation · mood · emotion · atmosphere
slides
Moves smoothly across surface
- portamentoSeamless pitch transition
- sweepsUses a broom
- runsMoves fast on foot
chromatic · ascending · descending · fingering · keyboard · strings · harp · pedal · continuous · seamless
harp
Plucked orchestral strings
- stringsThin flexible lines
- tromboneSlide-operated brass instrument
- timpaniTunable orchestral percussion
celeste · vibraphone · xylophone · marimba · glockenspiel · violin · cello · harmonics · bowing · mallet
dramatic
Strikingly expressive or sudden
- sweepingExtensive and far-reaching
- etherealDelicate beyond earthly measure
- dreamyVague and pleasantly distracted
climactic · tension · release · flourish · embellishment · ornamentation · mood · emotion · atmosphere · cinematic
keys
Lock-operating instruments
- octavesEight-tone intervals
- LisztHungarian Romantic-era pianist-composer
- ChopinPolish Romantic pianist-composer
Gershwin · Rhapsody in Blue · concert · virtuoso · showpiece · ivory · ebony · forearm · wrist · palm