SINCE 1828
sonority
noun
so·nor·i·ty
| \ sə-ˈnȯr-ə-tē
, -ˈnär-\
, -ˈnär-\
plural sonorities
Definition of sonority
Examples of sonority in a Sentence
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The score, commissioned from Mr. King’s frequent collaborator, Jason Moran, runs through a wide range of instrumental sonorities. — Alastair Macaulay, New York Times, "Review: San Francisco Ballet’s Unbound Festival Plunges Into the New," 22 Apr. 2018 There’s one singer, Clinton Curtis; many vocal lines are given to the theremin (played by Rob Schimmer), not a Beatles instrument but one whose weird sonority adds its own layer of drama. — Alastair Macaulay, New York Times, "Review: Mark Morris’s Lonely Hearts Club Band," 22 June 2018 Which is a big difference both in power and quality of sonority. — Alan Artner, chicagotribune.com, "In the heat, Moser, Grant Park Orchestra perform a delicate Dvorak," 30 June 2018 The Memorial for Peace and Justice presents this drama of intimidation with minimum documentation and detail and maximum sonority. — New York Times, "A Memorial to the Lingering Horror of Lynching," 1 June 2018 Her arresting wall-of-sound sonority is used more sparingly. — David Patrick Stearns, Philly.com, "Philadelphia Orchestra and Helene Grimaud gives a preview of the upcoming Israel tour," 11 May 2018 Muti shaped a flowing performance, although more resonant stage sonics would have better served the lush string sonorities. — John Von Rhein, chicagotribune.com, "Review: John Malkovich's wan narration disappoints in CSO reading of 'Lincoln Portrait'," 13 Apr. 2018 Not so in soloist Paul Jacobs’ magisterial playing of the organ part, which built to a thrilling roar of low pedal sonority in the final pages that must have set off every seismograph in the state. — John Von Rhein, chicagotribune.com, "Violinist Faust, in a brilliant CSO debut, makes convincing case for flawed Schumann rarity," 12 May 2018 Blocks of sound battle it out through shifting sonorities, punctuated by sharp attacks on drums and cymbals. — Stuart Isacoff, WSJ, "Exploring the New World With New Sounds," 20 Apr. 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'sonority.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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