capellmeister: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2/RareHistorical, formal, musical; sometimes used figuratively in a critical or humorous context.
Quick answer
What does “capellmeister” mean?
The director or conductor of a choir, orchestra, or musical establishment, especially in a royal or noble court.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The director or conductor of a choir, orchestra, or musical establishment, especially in a royal or noble court.
A historical term for a composer or musical director in charge of the music for a specific chapel, court, or city. In modern usage, it sometimes refers to a respected but perhaps conservative musical director, or is used figuratively for someone rigidly in charge of a group's creative output.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. The German spelling "Kapellmeister" is equally or more common in both varieties, especially in formal musical discourse. The anglicised "capellmeister" is rare.
Connotations
In both, the word carries historical and specialist connotations. It is not a term for a modern orchestral conductor in general parlance.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both, confined to historical texts, musicology, and figurative/literary use.
Grammar
How to Use “capellmeister” in a Sentence
capellmeister of [institution]capellmeister to [person/royalty]serve/appointed as capellmeisterVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “capellmeister” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- His capellmeister-like demeanour stifled the orchestra's creativity.
- The production had a somewhat capellmeister-ish rigidity.
American English
- He adopted a capellmeister attitude, dictating every nuance.
- The approach was criticized as being too capellmeister.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in historical, musicological, or cultural studies texts discussing Baroque, Classical, or early Romantic music.
Everyday
Extremely rare. Might be encountered in historical novels or biographies.
Technical
Standard term in music history for a specific historical job title.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “capellmeister”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “capellmeister”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “capellmeister”
- Misspelling as 'chapelmeister' or 'kapellmeister' (the latter is the German form and often acceptable).
- Using it to refer to any modern conductor.
- Incorrect pronunciation placing stress on the first syllable (/ˈkæpəl-/).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Capellmeister' is a historical job title with compositional and administrative duties, typically in a court or church. 'Conductor' is the modern term for a person who directs an orchestra or choir during a performance.
Yes. 'Kapellmeister' is the original German spelling and is the most common form used in English-language musicology. The anglicised 'capellmeister' is a less frequent variant.
Historically, the position was almost exclusively held by men. In modern historical or figurative usage, the term is gender-neutral in principle, though traditionally masculine forms like 'maestro' are often used.
No. It is a highly specialised term used mainly in discussions of classical music history, historical biographies, or as a deliberate figurative expression in writing.
The director or conductor of a choir, orchestra, or musical establishment, especially in a royal or noble court.
Capellmeister is usually historical, formal, musical; sometimes used figuratively in a critical or humorous context. in register.
Capellmeister: in British English it is pronounced /kəˈpɛlˌmaɪstə/, and in American English it is pronounced /kəˈpɛlˌmaɪstər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To play the capellmeister (figurative: to act in an overly controlling, pedantic manner)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a CAPtain of a musical CHAPEL (capell) who is the MASTER (meister) of the musicians. The Capellmeister is the master of the chapel music.
Conceptual Metaphor
MUSICAL DIRECTION IS AUTHORITATIVE LEADERSHIP. The capellmeister is the 'boss' or 'commander' of the musical ensemble.
Practice
Quiz
In a modern figurative sense, to call someone a 'capellmeister' might imply they are: