broken consort: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Highly specialized, academic/technical (music history, early music performance).
Quick answer
What does “broken consort” mean?
A musical ensemble in Renaissance and early Baroque music consisting of instruments from different families (e.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A musical ensemble in Renaissance and early Baroque music consisting of instruments from different families (e.g., string, wind, keyboard) playing together.
More broadly, any mixed instrumental group where the instruments are not all of the same family; the opposite of a "whole" or "full consort" where all instruments are of the same type (e.g., all viols). It can also be used metaphorically to describe a heterogeneous mixture.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. The term is used identically in UK and US academic musicology and early music circles.
Connotations
Slightly more common in UK usage due to the stronger tradition of early music scholarship and performance, but this is a minor distinction.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both varieties, limited to specialized discourse.
Grammar
How to Use “broken consort” in a Sentence
The [group] played as a broken consort.The repertoire for broken consort is diverse.[Composer] wrote for the broken consort.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “broken consort” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The broken-consort repertoire is fascinating.
- They specialise in broken-consort music.
American English
- The broken-consort repertoire is fascinating.
- They specialize in broken-consort music.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used precisely in musicology, historical performance practice, and Renaissance/Baroque studies.
Everyday
Not used; would be unfamiliar to the general public.
Technical
Core term in historical music performance, instrument classification, and repertoire cataloguing.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “broken consort”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “broken consort”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “broken consort”
- Using it to refer to any small musical group.
- Confusing it with 'consort' meaning a spouse or companion.
- Pronouncing 'consort' with the stress on the second syllable (it's CON-sort).
- Assuming it implies poor performance or a dysfunctional group.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While a rock band mixes instrument families (guitar, drums, vocals), 'broken consort' is a specific historical term for Renaissance/Baroque ensembles. The modern equivalent would simply be a 'mixed ensemble' or 'band'.
Absolutely not. 'Broken' here is used in an archaic sense meaning 'mixed' or 'varied', as opposed to a 'whole' or matched set.
No. A string quartet is a 'whole consort' because all its instruments (two violins, viola, cello) belong to the same string family.
You would encounter it in academic writing on early music, in programme notes for concerts of Renaissance music, or in the catalogue of a specialist music publisher or recording label.
A musical ensemble in Renaissance and early Baroque music consisting of instruments from different families (e.
Broken consort is usually highly specialized, academic/technical (music history, early music performance). in register.
Broken consort: in British English it is pronounced /ˌbrəʊkən ˈkɒnsɔːt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌbroʊkən ˈkɑːnsɔːrt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A broken consort of ideas (metaphorical, rare)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'broken' set of matching dishes. A 'broken consort' is similarly a 'broken' or incomplete set of matching instruments—it mixes different types.
Conceptual Metaphor
HETEROGENEITY IS BROKENNESS (a unified set is 'whole', a mixed set is 'broken').
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary defining characteristic of a 'broken consort'?