Musical Terms Beginning With N

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Native American Flute

A flute that is held in front of the player, has open finger holes, and has two chambers: one for collecting the breath of the player and a second chamber which creates sound.

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Natural

A sign used to cancel a sharp or flat symbol, so that the note that was sharp or flat is now natural.

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Neoclassical

20th Century composers’ return writing in forms used during the Classical era of music.

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Nocturne

A dream-like piece of music written for the piano. The composer Chopin wrote a very famous Nocturne.

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Nohkan

A high pitched, Japanese bamboo flute, commonly used in traditional Imperial Noh and Kabuki theatre

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Nonet

A piece of music for nine instruments.

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Notation

The symbols used to represent music when writing it down.

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Note

A musical sound or the symbol used to write it down.

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