fauxbourdon

[ foh-ber-don; French foh-boor-dawn ]
/ ˈfoʊ bərˌdɒn; French foʊ burˈdɔ̃ /

noun

Music. a 15th-century compositional technique employing three voices, the upper and lower voices progressing an octave or a sixth apart while the middle voice extemporaneously doubles the upper part at a fourth below.
the use of progressions of parallel sixth chords.

QUIZZES

PRACTICE SOME ESCAPISM WITH THIS WORD OF THE DAY QUIZ!

We salute you if you remember all the doovers from Word of the Day between May 25 and May 31!
Question 1 of 7
salute
to call out to in order to stop, attract attention, ask aid, etc.
to wield power; exercise rule.
to express respect or praise for; honor; commend.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of fauxbourdon

1875–80; < French: literally, false bourdon

Words nearby fauxbourdon

fauteuil, fauve, faux, faux pas, faux-naïf, fauxbourdon, fava bean, fave, favela, favelado, favella
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020