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Soft; -- a direction to the performer to execute a certain passage softly, and with diminished volume of tone. (Abbrev. p.)

wires of graduated length, thickness, and tension, struck by hammers moved by keys. Dumb piano. See Digitorium. -- Grand piano. See under Grand. -- Square piano, one with a horizontal frame and an oblong case. -- Upright piano, one with an upright frame and vertical wires.

A form of melodiograph applied to a piano.

A piano having a mechanical attachment which enables the player to prolong the notes at will.

mind able to reason; a person able to be generous; able to endure pain; able to play on a piano.

e by means of which the impulse of the player's finger is transmitted to the strings of a pianoforte or to the valve of an organ pipe. Grove. Chose in action. (Law) See Chose. -- Quantity of action (Physics), the product of the mass of a body by the space it runs through, and its velocity.

rms the æolian organ play. Campbell. Æolian attachment, a contrivance often attached to a pianoforte, which prolongs the vibrations, increases the

A hook, eyelet, or other device by which a piano wire is so held as to limit the vibration.

A piece so adapted; a transcription; as, a pianoforte arrangement of Beethoven's symphonies; an orchestral arrangement of a song, an opera, or the like.

An open air concert in the morning, as distinguished from an evening serenade; also, a pianoforte composition suggestive of morning. Grove. The crowing cock . . . Sang his aubade with lusty voice and clear. Longfellow.

ke against another object, in such a way as to make a loud noise; as, to bang a drum or a piano; to bang a door (against the doorpost or casing) in shutting it.

A tremolo effect, such as that produced on the piano by vibratory repetition of a note with sustained use of the pedal.

An instrument to guid the hands and fingers of pupils in playing on the piano, etc.

A keyed stringed instrument, now superseded by the pianoforte. See Clarichord.

The keyboard of an organ, pianoforte, or harmonium.

, furnace, etc., used to check or regulate the draught of air. (b) A contrivance, as in a pianoforte, to deaden vibrations; or, as in other pieces of mechanism, to check some action at a particular time. Nor did Sabrina's presence seem to act as any damper at the modest little festivities. W. Black.…

A small dumb keyboard used by pianists for exercising the fingers; -- called also dumb piano.

A kind of uptight piano.

An instrument resembling the organ in tine and the upright piano in form. It is characterized by great strength and sweetness of tone.

stive force to ideas and sentiments; as, he reads with expression; her performance on the piano has expression. The imitators of Shakespeare, fixing their attention on his wonderful power of expression, have directed their imitation to this. M. Arnold.