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definitions

tone colour

noun
  1. 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 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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.

    Interpreters

    Carl Van Vechten

  • This tone-colour she achieves stroke by stroke, devoting many days to the study of important phrases.

    Interpreters

    Carl Van Vechten

  • The movement is long, thoughtful, and no less apt in invention than rich and glowing in tone-colour.

    Musical Criticisms

    Arthur Johnstone

  • The suggestion, at the beginning, of the rising sun, is a mighty example of the overwhelming power of tone-colour.

    Edward MacDowell

    Lawrence Gilman