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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Some random terms

  • vocal music music that is written or arranged to be performed by human voices.
  • turn An ornament consisting of four notes, alternating the main note with the one above it and the one below.
  • con furia [Italian] “With fury”.
  • major Term referring to a sequence of notes that define the tonality of the major scale. This series consists of seven notes: the tonic, followed by the next note a whole step up from the tonic, the third is a whole step from the second, the fourth is a half step from the third, the fifth is a whole step from the fourth, the sixth is a whole step from the fifth, the seventh is another whole step, followed by the tonic, a half step above the seventh.
  • bizzarro [Italian] Odd, whimsical, irregular.
  • deciso [Italian] Decided, bold.
  • allegro [Italian] Literally, “cheerful”. A quick tempo marking, usually around 120–168 BPM.
  • Klang [German] Sound, tune, ringing, sonority.
  • character piece Term used for a broad range of 19th century piano music based on a single idea or program.
  • locrian A mode based upon the seventh tone of the major scale.
  • nobile [Italian] “Noble“, grand, impressive.
  • Cecilia [Italian] Saint honored as the patroness of music.
  • reggae Jamaican popular music style characterized by offbeat rhythms and chanted vocals over a strong bass part.
  • measure The smallest metrical divisions of a composition, containing a fixed number of beats, the first of which bears an accent.
  • serenade [French] Night music; a classical instrumental genre that combines elements of chamber music and symphonic music.