Multilingual Music Glossary
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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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Some random terms
- avec
“With”.
- acciaccatura
A short grace note, typically notated with a slash through the stem or flag, that quickly resolves to the main note.
- trepak A Russian dance in quick duple meter.
- tessitura
The most musically acceptable and comfortable range for a given singer or, less frequently, musical instrument.
- cakewalk Traditional, syncopated African-American form of music and dance which originated among slaves in the Southern United States.
- oratorio
Large-scale dramatic genre originating in the Baroque, based on a text of religious or serious character, performed by solo voices, chorus and orchestra; similar to opera but without scenery, costumes or action.
- raddolcendo
Growing sweeter and calmer.
- additive meter A pattern of beats that subdivide into smaller, irregular groups. It is common in Eastern European musics, and contemporary compositions attempting to emulate such a sound. For example, a time signature like 9/8, which is normally subdivided as 3+3+3, may be subdivided by the composer as 2+3+2+2 for musical effect.
- polonaise
Stately Polish processional dance in triple meter.
- virtuoso
Performer of extraordinary technical ability.
- tremolo
A rapid alternation between two notes.
- Ausdrucksvoll
Expressive.
- vite
Fast.
- cut off An arm and hand motion by a conductor that indicates to an ensemble that they stop performing. This is normally done at the end of a composition, at the end of a movement or section, or on a fermata.
- sgarbato
Rude, unkind, impolite.