Dictionary for the Arts

Definitions of words pertaining to music, genres, visual and performing arts.

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Ambient music is a musical genre that focuses largely on the timbral characteristics of sounds, often organized or performed to evoke an “atmospheric,” “visual,” or “unobtrusive” quality. The sort of music that could be played during a dinner to create a background atmosphere for that activity, rather than serving as the focus of attention.*

Arena an enclosed area for the presentation of sports events and spectacles.

Avant-garde (French pronunciation: [avɑ̃ɡaʁd]) means “advance guard” or “vanguard”.  The adjective form is used in English, to refer to people or works that are experimental or innovative, particularly with respect to art, culture, and politics.*
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Avant Garde Music
is a term used to characterize music that is thought to be ahead of its time, i.e. containing innovative elements or fusing different genres. *

Charette (sha-ret) French is an intense period of design activity.
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Eclectic, Eclecticism is a kind of mixed style in the fine arts: “the borrowing of a variety of styles from different sources and combining them” (Hume 1998, 5). Significantly, Eclecticism hardly ever constituted a specific style in art: it is characterized by the fact that it was not a particular style. In general, the term describes the combination in a single work of a variety of influences — mainly of elements from different historical styles in architecture, painting, and the graphic and decorative arts. In music the term used may be either eclecticism, crossover music, or polystylism.*

EFY is an LDS (Latter Day Saint) term for Especially For Youth.

Festival is an event, usually and ordinarily staged by a local community, which centers on and celebrates some unique aspect of that community and the Festival.*

Gala A festive occasion, especially a lavish social event or entertainment.  Marked by lavish or festive celebration: a gala ball after the inaugural ceremony. Characterized by sumptuous social pleasure: the gala life of the very rich.

Headliner The headlining band or performer at a concert; the best-known and first billed band, often performing as the final act of the evening.*

Libation is a serving of an alcoholic beverage.  The pouring of a liquid offering is a religious ritual.

Stadium a large structure for open-air sports or entertainments.

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