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

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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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Some random terms

  • middle C First C below the 440 Hz A. It is the note on the ledger line halfway between the bass and treble clef on the grand staff. It is the lowest C that a concert flute can make.
  • fado [Portuguese] A type of street song and dance of Portugal, usually accompanied by a guitar.
  • ritardando [Italian] Gradually delaying the tempo.
  • inline G On a flute, the standard position of the left-hand G (third-finger) key: in line with the first and second keys.
  • transposing instrument Those instruments which are notated in one key on paper, yet sound another key when they are performed.
  • passamezzo [Italian] A 16th and 17th century Italian dance similar to or identical to the pavane.
  • part writing The component of counterpoint that recognizes each voice as an individual, horizontal melody rather than as a part of the resultant, vertical chords.
  • dur [French] Literally, “hard”. With a harsh or ungraceful tone.
  • contralto [Italian] The lowest female voice.
  • double exposition In a concerto, a twofold statement of the theme, once by the orchestra and once by the soloist.
  • dodecaphony Ensuring that all 12 notes of the chromatic scale are sounded as often as one another in a piece of music while preventing the emphasis of any.
  • burden A phrase or theme that recurs at the end of each verse in a folk song or ballad.
  • easy listening A genre of popular music that is meant to be soothing and relaxing to the listener.
  • fortississimo [Italian] Extremely loud, louder than fortissimo.
  • glee An English part song for three or more voices originating in the 17th century.