Alberti bass

American  

[al-bur-tee bays, ahl-ber-] / ælˈbɜr ti ˈbeɪs, ɑlˈbɛr- /

noun

Music.

1. a reiterated broken-chord figure used as an accompaniment, especially in 18th-century rococo keyboard music.

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Etymology

Origin of Alberti bass

1875–80; named after Domenico Alberti (circa 1710–40), Italian musician

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Alberti bass

Mr. Prutsman’s music cleverly combines evocations of five-finger exercises and Alberti bass figures with hazy harmonies, hints of mellow jazz, a two-step stride and a nod to Debussy.

From New York Times ● Mar. 18, 2010

Some of the phrases and figures, and the occasional employment of the Alberti bass, tell, however, of the new era soon about to be inaugurated by Haydn.

From The Pianoforte Sonata Its Origin and Development by J. S. (John South) Shedlock

The music, which may be described as a study in the Alberti bass, is decidedly more correct in form than the French of the title-page.

From The Pianoforte Sonata Its Origin and Development by J. S. (John South) Shedlock

In all these sonatas the increasing use of what is called the Alberti bass is noticeable.

From Critical and Historical Essays Lectures delivered at Columbia University by W. J. (Winton James) Baltzell

To view the Lilypond source file, click here.   foreshadow, in a curious manner, the Alberti bass.

From The Pianoforte Sonata Its Origin and Development by J. S. (John South) Shedlock

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