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

  • risoluto [Italian] Bold, resolute.
  • facile [Italian] “Easy”.
  • inline G On a flute, the standard position of the left-hand G (third-finger) key: in line with the first and second keys.
  • irato [Italian] Irate, angry.
  • furioso [Italian] “Furious”.
  • tranquillo [Italian] Calm, quiet.
  • polycoral Performance style developed in the late sixteenth century involving the use of two or more choirs that alternate with each other or sing together.
  • tango [Spanish] A dance in 2/4 time from Argentina.
  • serenade [French] Night music; a classical instrumental genre that combines elements of chamber music and symphonic music.
  • concert pitch The tuning pitch of an ensemble, typically A440.
  • middle C First C below the 440 Hz A. It is the note on the ledger line halfway between the bass and treble clef on the grand staff. It is the lowest C that a concert flute can make.
  • con fuoco [Italian] Literally, “with fire”. A directive to play with vehement energy or fervid emotion.
  • comodamente [Italian] Comfortably.
  • jive A form of blues popular in the 1940s.
  • line A general term for a discrete voice or part in a vocal or instrumental composition.