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

  • dynamics The softness or loudness of a sound or note.
  • non-harmonic note In part writing, a note that is dissonant with other notes in the same chord.
  • quadruplet A group of four notes played in the time usually taken to play six.
  • ravvivando [Italian] Animating, brightening up; quickening.
  • très [French] “Very”, “much”.
  • decani [Latin] In Anglican church music, referring to the half of the choir sitting on the dean's side of the church.
  • pianississimo [Italian] Extremely soft, softer than pianissimo.
  • buffo [Italian] Comic, humorous.
  • post-modern A term adopted around the mid-1970s to describe our current eclectic, experimental age.
  • articulation The manner in which adjacent notes of a melody are connected or separated. Woodwind and brass instruments generally articulate by tonguing, the use of the tongue to break the airflow into the instrument.
  • staccato [Italian] A style of playing notes in a detached, separated, distinct manner, as opposed to legato.
  • suives [French] Literally, “follow”. A directive to an accompanist to follow the musical interpretation of the soloist.
  • Stimmung [German] Mood. Also, tuning.
  • interlude Any piece of music played or sung between the movements of a larger composition.
  • common time 4/4 time.