principale
Definition of the Italian term principale in music:
- main
- director, chief, master
- principal (the leader of a section in an orchestra, excluding the leader of the first violins)
- the principal foundation stop of an organ, usually of 8' pitch on the manuals and 16' pitch on the pedals (equivalent to "Diapason" or "Principal" in English, "Prinzipal" in German, and "Montre" in French)
- trumpet register and a style of playing from the 16th to the 18th century
Language
Italian
Singular
principale
Plural
principali
Variant
prinzipale
Synonym
(4) diapason
Combinations
Italian musical terms that include principale:
- cembalo principale – principal harpsichord (the leading harpsichord)
- clarino principale – principal clarion (high-pitched trumpet used in th...
- flauto principale – organ flute stop of 8' or 4' pitch with a loud ton...
- nota principale – principal note, essential note
- parte principale – principal part
- pianoforte principale – principal piano
- violino principale – principal first violin (indication that this part ...
Musical examples
Music scores that include principale:
- Antonio Vivaldi: Violin Concerto No. 4 (1723) Page 1
- George Frideric Handel: Water Music (1715‑36) Page 1