A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Florid

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A Dictionary of Music and Musicians
edited by George Grove

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From volume 1 of the work.

1504400A Dictionary of Music and Musicians — FloridGeorge GroveGeorge Grove

FLORID. Music in rapid figures, divisions, or passages, the stem of the simple melody bursting forth, as it were, into leaves and flowers. The image is the same as that in Fioriture. The Italian term is Figurato. Examples are hardly necessary; but the genesis of florid passages is highly interesting, and an instance or two, from the simplest form to the very highest art, may be forgiven.

Bach, Christmas Oratorio.

${ \override Score.TimeSignature #'stencil = ##f \time 3/8 \clef bass \relative c { c8 c c c g r c16[ c32 c] c16[ g c g] c8 g r } }$

Haydn, Quartet 1.

${ \override Score.TimeSignature #'stencil = ##f \override Score.Rest #'style = #'classical \time 6/8 \key bes \major \partial 8 \relative f'' { f8 f f f bes f r r4 r8 r s f f g16 f g f bes8 f r } }$

Mozart, G-minor Symphony

${ \override Score.TimeSignature #'stencil = ##f \time 4/4 \key g \minor \relative f'' { f2 c4 a des'2 e,4 g f2 c'8 a c a des bes des bes e, g e g f4 } }$

Beethoven, Concerto No. 5.

${ \override Score.TimeSignature #'stencil = ##f \time 4/4 \partial 4 \relative b' { b4$ c a e' d$ d2. b$ c8 a gis a c a e' d$ d2 } }$

Do., Ninth Symphony (Adagio).

${ \override Score.TimeSignature #'stencil = ##f \time 4/4 \key bes \major \relative d'' { d2$ a bes f4. ees8$ d4( f bes4. c8) d4( f8 ees c4) s \bar "||" \grace f,32 d'4.( c16 bes) bes8( a) ~ a16( c bes a) c8( bes) ~ bes16( d bes g) g( f e f e f g ees) ees( d cis d g f e f) c'!( bes a bes a bes) bes( c) cis( d ees d f d f ees) cis4 \bar "||" } }$

Such florid passages are essential to Variations, and the last of these examples is taken from the finest set of variations existing.

For Florid Counterpoint see p. 408b.

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