catch in music meaning | TheMusicDictionary

Meaning of "Catch" in Music

In the context of music, the term "catch" can have multiple meanings depending on the specific usage. Here are a few possible interpretations:

1. **Catch as a Musical Idea**: In popular music, a **hook** is a musical idea, often a short riff, passage, or phrase, that is used to make a song appealing and to "catch the ear of the listener" ). The hook is typically found in the chorus and can be melodic or rhythmic. It is often the most memorable and recognizable part of a song.

2. **Catch as a Type of Song**: In the realm of historical music, a **catch** is a type of round that was popular in the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries. It typically has a humorous or bawdy text that is often difficult to articulate.

3. **Catch as a Feeling**: In contemporary slang, the phrase "catch feelings" is used to describe the act of having or developing romantic feelings for someone. It implies unwelcome romantic attachments from one of the parties in the relationship.

It's important to note that the meaning of "catch" in music can vary depending on the context and the specific genre or style being discussed.

A humourous composition for three or four voices common in England during the sixteen hundreds. The parts are written so that each singer catches up to the other parts, giving the words different meanings than if each line was sung alone, usually to a humourous or bawdy effect.