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

  • chord progression Series of chords played in order.
  • allegrissimo [Italian] A fast tempo marking, faster than allegro.
  • morendo [Italian] Literally, “dying away”. Gradually diminishing in volume and tempo, fading away.
  • dolce [Italian] Sweet, soft, with tender emotion.
  • martellato [Italian] Literally, “hammered”. Strongly marked.
  • transcription Either notating an unnotated piece, or rewriting a piece, either simply recopying, as for clarity, or as an arrangement for another instrument.
  • allegretto [Italian] A rather fast tempo marking between allegro and moderato, usually around 100–120 BPM.
  • isorhythmic motet Medieval and early Renaissance motet based on a repeating rhythmic pattern throughout one or more voices.
  • couplet [French] A term used in the 1600s and 1700s for the intermediate sections of a rondeau.
  • loure [French] A slow, dignified French dance of the 17th and 18th centuries usually in 3/4 or 6/4 time.
  • staccatissimo [Italian] A style of playing notes in a detached, separated, distinct manner that shortens the notated duration of the note in a more exaggerated way than normal staccato.
  • fragmentation The technique of developing a theme by dividing it into smaller units; most common in the music of the Viennese Classicists.
  • hautbois [French] Oboe.
  • resonator Term referring to those parts of instruments which resonate or vibrate, thus enhancing the sound of the instrument.
  • fundamental The base note upon which a chord is built.