musica ficta

American  

[myoo-zi-kuh fik-tuh, moo-si-kah fik-tah] / ˈmyu zɪ kə ˈfɪk tə, ˈmu sɪˌkɑ ˈfɪk tɑ /

Latin musica falsa

noun

1. the use of chromatically altered tones in the contrapuntal music of the 10th to the 16th centuries.

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Etymology

Origin of musica ficta

First recorded in 1795–1805, musica ficta is from Medieval Latin mūsica ficta, literally, “fashioned music”

Example Sentences

In due time singers of that period became likewise very proficient in improvising free parts about a given melody or cantus firmus, a practice indicated by the term "musica ficta" which was beneficial in stimulating the imagination to a genuine musical activity.

From Project Gutenberg

The latter is 'feigned' music, or Musica Ficta, which at this time was the art of dislocating the 'Mi,' so as to change the key.

From Project Gutenberg