Multilingual Music Glossary

# A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Found a word you don't know? No problem. Look it up in the Music Glossary!

We are currently providing explanations for 2484 terms from 12 languages, including English, Italian, French, German, Spanish, Dutch, Swedish, Finnish, Latin…

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Please note: a music glossary is just like a dictionary. It contains explanations to musical terms. If you are looking for a piece, please go here instead: search tunes.

Some random terms

  • 8va [Italian] A directive to perform an octave higher than written.
  • part In instrumental or choral music, the music for a single instrument or voice.
  • allegramente [Italian] Cheerfully.
  • secco [Italian] Literally, “dry”. A directive to perform in an unornamented, cold manner. It usually implies that the notes should be of short duration.
  • sonatina [Italian] A form popular in the late classical era that consisted of a short or “light” sonata; often the sonatina contained an exposition and recapitulation without the development section. The form has been revived in the 20th century by various composers.
  • treble The highest part of a polyphonic composition.
  • Noël [French] Christmas.
  • irato [Italian] Irate, angry.
  • Biamonti Catalog [Italian] A chronological catalog of Ludwig van Beethoven's compositions, compiled by Giovanni Biamonti.
  • outer voices The highest and the lowest voices in a polyphonic composition.
  • fingering The methodical use of fingers in the playing of instruments.
  • divertissment [French] A light, entertaining dance and music combination related to the divertimento.
  • planctus [Latin] Medieval style of song and poetry of a lamenting character.
  • rallentando [Italian] Slowing down.
  • dominant The fifth degree of a diatonic scale.