sequence

sequence
/see"kweuhns/, n., v., sequenced, sequencing.
n.
1. the following of one thing after another; succession.
2. order of succession: a list of books in alphabetical sequence.
3. a continuous or connected series: a sonnet sequence.
4. something that follows; a subsequent event; result; consequence.
5. Music. a melodic or harmonic pattern repeated three or more times at different pitches with or without modulation.
6. Liturgy. a hymn sometimes sung after the gradual and before the gospel; prose.
7. Motion Pictures. a series of related scenes or shots, as those taking place in one locale or at one time, that make up one episode of the film narrative.
8. Cards. a series of three or more cards following one another in order of value, esp. of the same suit.
9. Genetics. the linear order of monomers in a polymer, as nucleotides in DNA or amino acids in a protein.
10. Math. a set whose elements have an order similar to that of the positive integers; a map from the positive integers to a given set.
v.t.
11. to place in a sequence.
12. Biochem. to determine the order of (chemical units in a polymer chain), esp. nucleotides in DNA or RNA or amino acids in a protein.
[1350-1400; ME < LL sequentia, equiv. to sequ- (s. of sequi to follow) + -entia -ENCE]
Syn. 1. See series. 2. arrangement. 4. outcome, sequel.

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      in music, a melodic or chordal figure repeated at a new pitch level (that is, transposed), thus unifying and developing musical material. The word sequence has two principal uses: the medieval (Middle Ages) sequence in the liturgy of the Latin mass and the harmonic sequence in tonal music.

      In medieval music and literature, the sequence was a Latin text associated with a specific chant melody, to be sung at mass between the Alleluia (hallelujah) and the reading of the Gospel. It developed about the 9th century from the trope (addition of music, text, or both) to the jubilus, the florid ending of the last syllable of the Alleluia. The melodic tropes were normally broken into phrases that were repeated in performance (as aa, bb, cc,…) by alternating choirs. Texts set to these and to Alleluia melodies were originally prose and thus were referred to by the medieval Latin name prosa.

      By the 11th century the sequence had developed a common poetic form that reflected the musical structure: typically, introductory and closing lines enclosed a series of rhymed, metrical couplets of varying lengths (x aa bb cc…y). Each syllable was set to a single note of music. Eventually, texts were set to newly composed melodies, and the lengths of the couplets were equalized. Sequences became highly popular throughout Europe, and thousands of examples of them survive that are appropriate to different liturgical feasts. In the 16th century the Council of Trent (Trent, Council of) abolished all but four sequences from the liturgy: Victimae paschali laudes (“Praise the Paschal Victim”), Veni Sancte Spiritus (“Come Holy Spirit”), Lauda Sion (“Praise Zion”), and Dies irae (“Day of Wrath”). The Stabat mater dolorosa (“The Sorrowful Mother Was Standing”) was reinstated in 1727.

      Secular musical forms influenced by the sequence include the estampie (a dance) and the lai (a song genre of the trouvères (trouvère), medieval French poet-composers).

 In tonal music, the harmonic sequence, as accompaniment for a melody, is a motivic pattern of two or more harmonies in succession that is restated in transposition, usually twice or three times, preserving the same melodic shape (relative motion) of each part or voice. By creating harmonic and tonal variety with a unified pattern, the sequence serves as a means of musical development. Two types of sequence are commonly used: nonmodulating (or tonal) sequence, which keeps the restatements all in a single key; and modulating sequence, which may traverse several keys.

      Though easily abused if applied mechanically, the harmonic sequence has been widely employed by all composers of tonal music, that is, those active from roughly 1700 to about 1900. Very long sequences appear in concerti of the Baroque era, especially in the works of George Frideric Handel (Handel, George Frideric) and Antonio Vivaldi (Vivaldi, Antonio). Often the sequence is used for modulation in the development section of a sonata form, as in the first movement of Beethoven (Beethoven, Ludwig van)'s Symphony No. 1 in C Major (1800). A remarkable extended series of modulating sequences is a feature of the development section of Frédéric Chopin (Chopin, Frédéric)'s Piano Concerto No. 1 in E Minor (1830).

Mark DeVoto
 

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • séquence — [ sekɑ̃s ] n. f. • 1170; bas lat. sequentia 1 ♦ Liturg. Chant rythmé qui prolonge le verset de l alléluia (à la messe) ou le trait (II, 5o). 2 ♦ (1534) À certains jeux, Série d au moins trois cartes de même couleur qui se suivent (⇒ 1. quarte,… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Sequence — Séquence Cette page d’homonymie répertorie les différents sujets et articles partageant un même nom. Une séquence est une série d éléments mis et traités les uns à la suite des autres. Le terme peut faire référence à : séquence, une pièce… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Sequence — Se quence (s[=e] kwens), n. [F. s[ e]quence, L. sequentia, fr. sequens. See {Sequent}.] 1. The state of being sequent; succession; order of following; arrangement. [1913 Webster] How art thou a king But by fair sequence and succession? Shak.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • séquence — 1. (sé kan s ) s. f. 1°   Terme de jeux de cartes. Suite d au moins trois cartes de la même couleur. Séquence de roi de coeur. Séquence de dame de pique. Les tierces, les quatrièmes, les quintes sont des séquences. 2°   Arrangement particulier… …   Dictionnaire de la Langue Française d'Émile Littré

  • sequence — Sequence. s. f. Terme de certains jeux de cartes, Suitte de plusieurs cartes de mesme couleur, & du moins au nombre de trois, dans le rang que le jeu leur donne. Sequence de Roy de coeur. sequence de Dame de picque. avoir flus, sequence …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie française

  • Sequence — Se quence, v. t. (Biochem.) to determine the sequence of; as, to sequence a protein or a DNA fragment. [PJC] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • sequence — late 14c., hymn sung after the Hallelujah and before the Gospel, from O.Fr. sequence answering verses (13c.), from M.L. sequentia a following, a succession, from L. sequentem (nom. sequens), prp. of sequi to follow (see SEQUEL (Cf. sequel)). In… …   Etymology dictionary

  • sequence — [sē′kwəns, sē′kwens΄] n. [MFr < LL, a following < L sequens: see SEQUENT] 1. a) the following of one thing after another in chronological, causal, or logical order; succession or continuity b) the order in which this occurs 2. a continuous… …   English World dictionary

  • sequence — англ. [си/куэнс] séquence фр. [сэка/нс] Sequenz нем. [сэквэ/нц] sequenza ит. [сэкуэ/нца] секвенция …   Словарь иностранных музыкальных терминов

  • séquence — sequence англ. [си/куэнс] séquence фр. [сэка/нс] Sequenz нем. [сэквэ/нц] sequenza ит. [сэкуэ/нца] секвенция …   Словарь иностранных музыкальных терминов

  • sequence — ► NOUN 1) a particular order in which related things follow each other. 2) a set of related things that follow each other in a particular order. 3) a part of a film dealing with one particular event or topic. 4) Music a repetition of a phrase or… …   English terms dictionary

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