tone colour
noun
the quality of a musical sound that is conditioned or distinguished by the upper partials or overtones present in itOften shortened to: tone See also timbre (def. 2)
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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Examples from the Web for tone colour
Historical Examples of tone colour
In gesture and in musical speech, in tone-colour, she was faithful to the first wonderful impression of the eye.
InterpretersCarl Van Vechten
This tone-colour she achieves stroke by stroke, devoting many days to the study of important phrases.
InterpretersCarl Van Vechten
The movement is long, thoughtful, and no less apt in invention than rich and glowing in tone-colour.
Musical CriticismsArthur Johnstone
The suggestion, at the beginning, of the rising sun, is a mighty example of the overwhelming power of tone-colour.
Edward MacDowellLawrence Gilman