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

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…

You may browse the glossary alphabetically, or directly search for a term by using the search box above.

If you are looking for a symbol, check out our Guide to Musical Symbols.

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

  • waltz Ballroom dance type in triple meter; in the Romantic era, a short, stylized piano piece.
  • passacaglia [Italian] Baroque form in moderately slow triple meter, based on a short, repeated base-line melody that serves as the basis for continuous variation in the other voices.
  • Lied [German] (Plural: Lieder.) Literally, “song”; most commonly associated with the solo art song of the nineteenth century, usually accompanied by piano.
  • tailgate A slang term for a trombone Glissando in Dixieland jazz.
  • allargando [Italian] Growing broader, slowing down.
  • forefall An ascending appoggiatura.
  • severità [Italian] Strictness, severity.
  • musical Genre of twentieth century musical theater, especially popular in the United States and Great Britain; characterized by spoken dialogue, dramatic plot interspersed with songs, ensemble numbers and dancing.
  • grace note Ornamental note, often printed in small type.
  • glissando [Italian] Rapid slide through pitches of a scale. A glissando with the voice is known as portamento.
  • sereno [Italian] Serene, calm.
  • fine [Italian] Literally, “end”. An indication of where a composition ends when there is a repeat.
  • reprise [French] Repetition.
  • eilig [German] Hurried, hasty, speedy.
  • inquieto [Italian] Restless, uneasy, agitated.