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

  • reprise [French] A shortened version of a major composition in a stage production used to reward the audience with a repeat of a popular melody. This is often used as a finale to a scene or an act.
  • vivace [Italian] A fast tempo marking, usually around 140 BPM.
  • andantino [Italian] A moderate tempo marking, which can be faster or slower than andante.
  • sopra [Italian] “Above”.
  • zart [German] Tender, delicate.
  • tempo [Italian] Literally, “time”. The speed of a piece of music, usually reckoned by the rate of its beats.
  • fresco [Italian] “Fresh”, vigorous, lively.
  • cantoris [Latin] Literally, “of the cantor”. In Anglican church music, referring to the half of the choir sitting on the cantor's side of the church.
  • nicht [German] “Not“.
  • lent [French] Slow.
  • phrasing The clear rendering in musical performance of the phrases of a melody.
  • guerriero [Italian] Martial, warlike.
  • smaniato [Italian] Furious, vehement.
  • third An interval of three diatonic degrees, counting the first and last degree.
  • malinconico [Italian] Melancholic.