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

  • appoggiatura [Italian] Ornamental note, usually taking half of the duration of the main note it precedes.
  • florid Rich, embellished.
  • espressione [Italian] “Expression”.
  • fantasia [Italian] Free instrumental piece of fairly large dimensions, in an improvisational style.
  • echo A repetition or mimicking of a certain passage, usually with less force and volume than the original statement.
  • soprano [Italian] The highest female voice.
  • violento [Italian] Violent, vehement.
  • postlude A composition that concludes a larger composition. Also, a composition performed at the end of a church service as the congregation leaves.
  • acoustics The science that deals with the study of sound. Also, the art of optimizing sound in a room or other enclosed space, considering reverberation and other acoustical qualities.
  • Empfindung [German] Feeling, sentiment.
  • motteggiando [Italian] Bantering.
  • imitation Compositional technique in which a melodic idea is presented in one voice (or part), then restated in another while the first voice continues with new material.
  • tronco [Italian] A directive to perform a certain passage short or “cut off”.
  • canción [Spanish] A popular genre of Latin American music, particularly in Cuba, where many of the compositions originate.
  • tutti [Italian] “All”. A directive to perform with all instruments together.