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

  • teneramente [Italian] Tenderly.
  • Minnesinger [German] A poet or musician of the Minnesang tradition in Germany, active during the 12th through the 15th centuries.
  • quarter tone Half a semitone.
  • subito [Italian] At once, immediately.
  • musico [Italian] Term applied to any musician in the 17th and 18th centuries.
  • mordent An ornament indicating that a note is to be played in a single rapid alternation with the note above or below.
  • tuning The adjustment of the pitch of an instrument. Also, the set pitches to which an instrument is tuned.
  • libero [Italian] Literally, “free”. A directive to perform in a free, unrestrained style.
  • liturgy In those churches that use standard written forms of services, the ritual or service of public worship.
  • animato [Italian] Animated or spirited.
  • florid Rich, embellished.
  • expression The blend of feeling and intellect brought to a performance by the performer.
  • 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.
  • line A general term for a discrete voice or part in a vocal or instrumental composition.
  • refrain [French] A verse which repeats throughout a song or poem at given intervals.