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

  • dal segno [Italian] A directive to go back to a specific place of a composition, marked by a sign.
  • flageolet [French] A simple recorder with four finger holes, popular in the 17th century in England.
  • 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.
  • spagnoletta [Italian] An Italian dance of the late 16th century.
  • common chord A chord consisting of the root, third, and fifth.
  • aria [Italian] Lyric song for solo voice with orchestral accompaniment, generally expressing intense emotion; found in opera, cantata, and oratorio.
  • march A military piece characterized by strongly accented duple meter and clear sectional structures.
  • chord progression Series of chords played in order.
  • strophic form Song structure in which every stanza of the text is sung to the same musical tune.
  • sextuplet A group of six notes played in the time usually taken to play four.
  • fugato [Italian] In the style of a fugue.
  • triad A chord made up of three notes.
  • lamentoso [Italian] Like a lament, plaintive.
  • habanera [Spanish] Moderate duple meter dance of Cuban origin, popular in the nineteenth century. It is based on a characteristic rhythmic figure.
  • schnell [German] Fast.