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

  • adagio [Italian] A slow tempo marking, usually around 66–76 BPM.
  • oral transmission Preservation of music without the aid of written notation.
  • legatissimo [Italian] Very legato, extremely smooth and connected.
  • art music Music implying advanced structural and theoretical considerations and a written musical tradition. It is frequently used as a contrasting term to popular music and folk music.
  • formalism The tendency to elevate the formal aspects above the expressive value in music, as in Neoclassical music.
  • a tempo [Italian] A directive to return to the original tempo after a deliberate deviation.
  • jota [Spanish] A type of Spanish dance song characterized by a quick triple meter and guitar and castanet accompaniment.
  • concerto grosso [Italian] A baroque style of music in which a small group of solo instruments (the concertino) plays in opposition to a larger ensemble (the ripieno).
  • farce A comedy which aims to entertain the audience by means of extravagant and improbable situations.
  • signature Key signature or time signature.
  • perfect Term applied to the intervals of a unison, octave, fourth, and fifth when they are exactly in tune and not augmented nor diminished.
  • decani [Latin] In Anglican church music, referring to the half of the choir sitting on the dean's side of the church.
  • incidental music Music written to accompany dramatic works.
  • lesto [Italian] Quick, swift.
  • flageolet [French] A simple recorder with four finger holes, popular in the 17th century in England.