stop in music meaning | TheMusicDictionary

The Meaning of "Stop" in Music

In the context of music, the term "stop" can have different meanings depending on the specific musical context. Here are a few possible interpretations:

1. **Stop as a Musical Term**: In the realm of classical music, particularly on the organ, a "stop" refers to a mechanism that controls the entry of air from the pressurized wind chest into a rank of pipes, producing a distinctive tone.

2. **Stop as a Pause or Rest**: In a more general sense, "stop" can refer to a pause or rest in the music, indicating a momentary cessation of sound. This can be indicated by a rest symbol or a written instruction such as "fermata" (which means to hold a note or rest longer than its usual duration).

3. **Stop as a Musical Direction**: In some musical compositions, particularly in jazz or popular music, the term "stop" can be used as a musical direction to indicate a sudden break or cessation of sound by all or certain instruments in the ensemble. This can create a dramatic effect or emphasize a particular moment in the music.

It's important to note that the meaning of "stop" in music can vary depending on the musical genre, context, and specific instructions given by the composer or conductor.

The holes in a wind instrument or the key which blocks them.

Also, the registers of an organ or the mechanism that activates them.

A device that alters the tone color of a harpsichord or clavichord by adding or deleting strings, by the damping (or undamping) of all or selected strings.

Modifying the pitch of a brass instrument (normally the horn) by inserting one's hand into the bell.