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thorough bass

[beys]
noun Music.
  1. figured bass.
  2. continuo.
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Origin of thorough bass

First recorded in 1655–65
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for thorough bass

Historical Examples

  • His regular teacher, in those days, was Stadtpfeifer Schmidt, who instructed him in piano and thorough-bass.

    A Book of Burlesques

    H. L. Mencken

  • The author says, The ultimate end and aim of thorough-bass should only be the glory of God and recreation of the mind.

    Bach

    Charles Francis Abdy Williams

  • Murer seems to know nothing of Neefe when he says that van den Eeden was Beethovens only teacher in thorough-bass.

  • So far as his duties permitted, Herr Neefe has also given him instruction in thorough-bass.

  • Murer, after speaking of Pfeiffer, continues as follows: Van den Eeden remained his only teacher in thorough-bass.

British Dictionary definitions for thorough bass

thorough bass

noun
    1. Also called: basso continuo, continuo(esp during the baroque period) a bass part underlying a piece of concerted music. It is played on a keyboard instrument, usually supported by a cello, viola da gamba, etcSee also figured bass
    2. (as modifier)a thorough-bass part
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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012