BOURDON Definition & Meaning

bourdon

[boor-dn, bawr-, bohr-]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

Music.

1. the drone pipe of a bagpipe.
2. the drone string of a stringed instrument.
a low-pitched tone; bass.
a pipe organ stop of very low pitch.
the bell in a carillon having the lowest pitch.

bourdon

/ ˈbɔːdən, ˈbʊədən /

noun

a 16-foot organ stop of the stopped diapason type
the drone of a bagpipe
a drone or pedal point in the bass of a harmonized melody

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of bourdon¹

1350–1400; Middle English < Middle French; burden ²

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of bourdon¹

C14: from Old French: drone (of a musical instrument), of imitative origin

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Worcester Cathedral's bourdon bell was similarly struck 99 times in honour of the duke.

From

“I will miss the bourdon Emmanuel chiming the twelve coups de minuit” — the stroke of midnight — “so loud and solemn, which can be heard eight miles away.”

From

The so-called “bourdon”, the largest bell, goes by the name of “Emmanuel”.

From

At the cathedral, the coffin was brought into the vast chamber and a bourdon bell tolled.

From

They will all be tuned to the great bourdon bell Emmanuel.

From

Bourbons Bourdon gauge

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