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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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

  • double exposition In a concerto, a twofold statement of the theme, once by the orchestra and once by the soloist.
  • M.M. Marking typically found at the beginning of a composition, identifying the tempo of the composition in terms of beats per minute. This marking originally stood for “Mälzel Metronome”, but has since come to designate “Metronome Marking”.
  • sono [Italian] Sound.
  • grosso [Italian] Large, great, grand.
  • vocal cords The vocal organs in the human being which produce sound.
  • popular music Music of the common people.
  • flat An accidental symbol that lowers the pitch of a note by a semitone.
  • falsetto [Italian] Vocal technique whereby men can sing above their normal range, producing a lighter sound.
  • sixteenth note A note having the time duration of one sixteenth of a whole note.
  • divertissment [French] A light, entertaining dance and music combination related to the divertimento.
  • fauxbourdon [French] A technique of musical harmonization used in the late Middle Ages and early Renaissance. It consists of the cantus firmus and two other parts a sixth and a perfect fourth below.
  • bourrée [French] An old French dance in use during the Baroque period, very rapid and hearty, usually in 2/4 or 2/2 time.
  • contralto [Italian] The lowest female voice.
  • music drama Wagner's term for his operas.
  • episode Interlude or intermediate section in the baroque fugue, which serves as an area of relaxation between statements of the subject.