thorough bass

American  

[bays] / beɪs /

noun

Music.

1. figured bass.

2. continuo.

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thorough bass British  

/ beɪs /

noun

1. 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, etc See also figured bass

   2. ( as modifier )

      a thorough-bass part

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Etymology

Origin of thorough bass

First recorded in 1655–65

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

thorough bass

Not fatigued by his radicalisation of both musical texture and technique, Corelli added another flourish to his work: a musical shorthand called figured bass, or thorough bass, inherited from Monteverdi and universally adopted after him.

From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall

It was then decided he should go to the parish choir master, Holzer, to learn piano, violin, organ, singing and thorough bass.

From The World's Great Men of Music Story-Lives of Master Musicians by Harriette Brower

The first explosion over, the squall, still pursuing the hooker, began to roar in thorough bass.

From The Man Who Laughs by Victor Hugo

Some, if not all of the Psalms of David, had vocal compositions set to them by William and Henry Lawes, with a thorough bass, for an Organ, in four large books or volumes in 4to.

From The Lives of the Poets of Great Britain and Ireland (1753) Volume I. by Theophilus Cibber

If she comes to Paris in eighteen months or two years, she will take lessons in thorough bass and composition.

From Women in the Life of Balzac by Juanita Helm Floyd

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