in Music, signifies a passage of melody or of harmony which contains a musical idea more or less complete in respect of cadence. A melodic phrase may consist of two or three sounds only, rhythmically disposed, but generally consists of more. It may begin on an accented or an unaccented part of the measure, and end on either. A compound phrase consists of two or more simple phrases symmetrically disposed, so that the whole may present a regular ordonnance, and a satisfactory balancing of its component parts. Several of such phrases joined together form a period, and the most regular period consists of four symmetrical phrases or numbers. As there are various kinds of phrases, some vague and some symmetrical, so there are various kinds of periods. A melodic phrase may occupy one measure, or even less; or it may extend over two, three, or even more; and may either be confined to the key in which it began, or may modulate into another. The well-known air by Galuppi—adapted to the English words, "Taste life's glad moments"—offers, in its first eight measures, an example of four phrases, each of two measures, symmetrically arranged, and confined to one key. A harmonic phrase consists of a succession of chords forming a more or less determinate cadence; and may be prolonged by introducing dissonances, so as to avoid the perfect cadence. (See MUSIC, § Melody.) (G.F.G.)