musica ficta

[ myoo-zi-kuh fik-tuh; Latin moo-si-kah fik-tah ]

noun

1. the use of chromatically altered tones in the contrapuntal music of the 10th to the 16th centuries.

Word History and Origins

Origin of musica ficta¹

First recorded in 1795–1805, musica ficta is from Medieval Latin mūsica ficta, literally, “fashioned music”

Example Sentences

In due time singers of that period became likewise very proficient in improvising free parts about a given melody or cantus firmus, a practice indicated by the term "musica ficta" which was beneficial in stimulating the imagination to a genuine musical activity.

From Project Gutenberg

The latter is 'feigned' music, or Musica Ficta, which at this time was the art of dislocating the 'Mi,' so as to change the key.

From Project Gutenberg