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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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

  • timoroso [Italian] Timorous, fearful; with hesitation.
  • dur [French] Literally, “hard”. With a harsh or ungraceful tone.
  • neoclassical Term applied to 20th century composers who use the forms and thematic processes of the classical era.
  • divertissment [French] A light, entertaining dance and music combination related to the divertimento.
  • affannato [Italian] Anguished.
  • plainte [French] A song or instrumental composition with a slow, lamenting character.
  • parlando [Italian] “Speaking”.
  • basse dance [French] A graceful, stately court dance of the early Renaissance.
  • duplet A group of two notes played in the time usually taken to play three.
  • coda [Italian] Literally, “tail”. The last part of a piece, usually added to a standard form to bring it to a close.
  • incidental music Music written to accompany dramatic works.
  • score The complete musical notation of a composition, especially for an ensemble, where the individual parts are lined up vertically.
  • duple meter A rhythmic pattern with the the number of beats per measure being divisible by two.
  • ripieno [Italian] The notes added when realizing the figured bass of a basso continuo.
  • agilità [Italian] A directive to perform with lightness or agility.