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

  • foxtrot Ballroom dance popular in the 19th century.
  • burden A phrase or theme that recurs at the end of each verse in a folk song or ballad.
  • giusto [Italian] A directive to perform in an equal, steady, exact tempo.
  • common chord A chord that appears in more than one key. Frequently used in modulation.
  • alborada [Spanish] Literally, “dawn”. Lively instrumental composition to be played at daybreak, usually in 6/8 time.
  • sempre [Italian] Always.
  • pesante [Italian] “Heavy”, slow or with importance.
  • fado [Portuguese] A type of street song and dance of Portugal, usually accompanied by a guitar.
  • lieblich [German] Charming, lovely.
  • Minnesang [German] A tradition of Medieval courtly and secular music in Germany, cultivated by the nobility. The main focus of the music of this tradition was the idea of Minnedienst, servitude to love, often illustrated as the devoted knight entirely loyal to an unattainable lady with no hope of her love in return.
  • countertenor A male voice of unusually high range, generally achieved through falsetto. The countertenor has the range of either the female alto or soprano.
  • grave [Italian] The slowest tempo in music, usually slower than 40 BPM.
  • disco Commercial dance music popular in the 1970s, characterized by strong percussion in a quadruple meter.
  • a cappella [Italian] Choral or vocal music performed without instrumental accompaniment.
  • liturgy In those churches that use standard written forms of services, the ritual or service of public worship.