Basso—same as bass.
Berceuse—a cradle song.
Binary form—a form in two parts.
Binary measure—a measure having two beats.
Bis—twice. Used to indicate a repetition. (Rare.)
Brace—the sign used to join several staffs, showing that all tones represented on these staffs are to be performed together. The term is often used also in referring to the music written on staffs so joined; as—"Begin with the upper brace."
Broken chord—a chord whose tones are not all sounded simultaneously, as e.g., in an accompaniment group.
Broken octave—an octave whose tones are sounded one at a time instead of simultaneously.
Cacophony—harsh, discordant, unpleasant, especially incorrect combinations of tones. The opposite of euphony.
Cadenza—A brilliant passage, usually in an instrumental composition, introduced just before the close of a movement. The cadenza was formerly improvised by the performer, (thus giving an opportunity of displaying his technical skill), but since Beethoven, composers have usually written their own cadenzas.