fondamento

plural fondamentos

1. A quay along an Italian waterway.

   The girls walked single file along a narrow fondamento until they turned onto a borader walkway along a bigger canal.

   2008, Laurel Corona, The Four Seasons: A Novel of Vivaldi's Venice

   2 more examples

   That view up the fondamento is at all times one of the loveliest aspects of the lovely little island town, but in the month of May a strange enchantment is added.

   1991, Elizabeth Jane Howard, Green shades: an anthology of plants, gardens and gardeners, page 84

   She met Jessica in the piazza, or at the fondamento near the Canale Grande and the Canale di Cannaregio, or in the Church of San Marco by the statue of the Magdalen.

   2006, Grace Tiffany, The Turquoise Ring, page 187

2. entertainmentAn instrumental bass part that forms the basis of the melody, and against which other instruments provide harmony.

   The Fondamento really is very basic, though the detailed fingerings are of interest.

   2006, Early Music Review - Issues 111-116, page 4

   3 more examples

   John Frederick Peter, born in 1746, left behind him an ambitious work, dated 1763, entitled Partitur einer Freuden Music zum Friedens Dank Feste, scored for four-part chorus and strings, two flutes, two trumpets and fondamento."

   1931, John Tasker Howard, Our American Music: Three Hundred Years of It, page 25

   In the same collection there appeared a quatuor with four melodic instruments: flute, oboe, violin, and cello, besides the fondamento or figured bass.

   1949, Ruth Halle Rowen, Early chamber music, page 79

   Further, it is clear from the score that the "fifth horn in B-flat basso" is in reality only a fondamento part performed by the basso continuo in imitation of and to support the upper lines;

   2000, Historic Brass Society Journal - Volume 12, page 152