A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Bass (stave)

by Hubert Parry

BASS. (Ger. Bass; Fr. Basse; Ital. Basso.) The lower or grave part of the musical system, as contradistinguished from the treble, which is the high or acute part. The limits of the two are generally rather vague, but middle C is the practical division between them. Attempts have been made to spell the word 'base'; but this proceeds from a mistake. 'Bass' derives its form from the French or Italian, though ultimately from the Greek βάσις in its sense of foundation or support, the bass being that which supports the harmony. In former times this was much more obvious than it is now, when a single bass line represented a whole piece, and an accompanyist was satisfied with the addition of figures, from which he deciphered the rest of the harmony without having it written out in full. The importance of melody, which is a development of more modern styles, has somewhat obliterated this impression, and music seems to most people now-a-days to depend more upon the upper part than to rest upon the lower.

[ C. H. H. P. ]