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

  • aubade [French] A song or instrumental composition concerning, accompanying, or evoking daybreak.
  • sonata-rondò [Italian] A form of a composition that displays characteristics of both the rondò and the sonata forms.
  • interpretation The manner in which a performer carries out a composer's performance directions.
  • pianissimo [Italian] Very soft, softer than piano.
  • part song A vocal composition for two or more voices, usually unaccompanied.
  • violento [Italian] Violent, vehement.
  • squillante [Italian] Ringing.
  • tritone A dissonant interval consisting of three whole steps.
  • Konzertstück [German] An informal “concert piece”, usually in one movement, for solo instruments and orchestra.
  • larigot [French] A shepherd's flute or pipe.
  • pienezza [Italian] “Fullness”.
  • improvisation Creation of a musical composition while it is being performed.
  • monody Term applied to Italian songs written to be performed by one voice with instrumental accompaniment dating from the first half of the 17th century.
  • martial music Music with a military feeling.
  • Feldmusik [German] Music performed outdoors on wind instruments.