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ranz des vaches

 
Dictionary: Ranz· des· vaches
Home > Library > Literature & Language > Webster 1913

(räNs" dā̍` vȧsh")

[F., the ranks or rows of cows, the name being given from the fact that the cattle, when answering the musical call of their keeper, move towards him in a row, preceded by those wearing bells.]
The name for numerous simple, but very irregular, melodies of the Swiss mountaineers, blown on a long tube called the Alpine horn, and sometimes sung.

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Columbia Encyclopedia: ranz des vaches
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ranz des vaches (räNz dā väsh), type of Alpine folk melody of irregular melodic and rhythmic form used to call cattle. It is played on the alphorn by Swiss herders, or sung, with or without words. There are about 50 or more regional variations on the basic melodic pattern. Beethoven, in the Pastoral Symphony, Berlioz, in the Symphonie fantastique, and Rossini, in William Tell, are among the composers who have used the ranz des vaches in compositions.

 
 
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alphorn (instrument – in music)
Alpenhorn Alphorn
Ranz des vaches

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Dictionary. Webster 1913 Dictionary edited by Patrick J. Cassidy  Read more
Columbia Encyclopedia. The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition Copyright © 2003, Columbia University Press. Licensed from Columbia University Press. All rights reserved. www.cc.columbia.edu/cu/cup/.  Read more