Alberti bass

American  

[al-bur-tee beys, ahl-ber-] / ælˈbɜr ti ˈbeɪs, ɑlˈbɛr- /

noun

Music.

1. a reiterated broken-chord figure used as an accompaniment, especially in 18th-century rococo keyboard music.

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Etymology

Origin of Alberti bass

1875–80; named after Domenico Alberti (circa 1710–40), Italian musician

Example Sentences

Mr. Prutsman’s music cleverly combines evocations of five-finger exercises and Alberti bass figures with hazy harmonies, hints of mellow jazz, a two-step stride and a nod to Debussy.

From New York Times • Mar. 18, 2010

The music, which may be described as a study in the Alberti bass, is decidedly more correct in form than the French of the title-page.

From The Pianoforte Sonata Its Origin and Development by Shedlock, J. S. (John South)

Some of the phrases and figures, and the occasional employment of the Alberti bass, tell, however, of the new era soon about to be inaugurated by Haydn.

From The Pianoforte Sonata Its Origin and Development by Shedlock, J. S. (John South)

The introduction of the Alberti bass is one clear sign of a post-Scarlatti period.

From The Pianoforte Sonata Its Origin and Development by Shedlock, J. S. (John South)

To view the Lilypond source file, click here.   foreshadow, in a curious manner, the Alberti bass.

From The Pianoforte Sonata Its Origin and Development by Shedlock, J. S. (John South)