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

  • tyrolienne [French] A dance form in quick triple meter.
  • metronome Device used to indicate the tempo by sounding regular beats at adjustable speeds.
  • klein [German] Literally, “little”. In reference to intervals, “minor“.
  • très [French] “Very”, “much”.
  • farce A comedy which aims to entertain the audience by means of extravagant and improbable situations.
  • habanera [Spanish] Moderate duple meter dance of Cuban origin, popular in the nineteenth century. It is based on a characteristic rhythmic figure.
  • head joint The top section of a flute, with the tone hole where the player initiates the sound by blowing air across the opening.
  • medley A piece of music that is composed of melodies of other compositons strung together.
  • rinforzando [Italian] Literally, “reinforcing”. Dynamic marking indicating that several notes, or a short phrase, are to be emphasized.
  • recital A performance given by a soloist or a small ensemble.
  • aubade [French] A song or instrumental composition concerning, accompanying, or evoking daybreak.
  • Italian overture The baroque precursor of the classical symphony, evolved during the 17th and 18th centuries; it is characterized by its three movement form, consisting of a fast, a slow, and a fast movement.
  • walking bass In baroque music, a bass line that moves steadily in a rhythm contrasting to that of the upper parts.
  • sciolto [Italian] A directive to perform at ease, in a light, free manner.
  • Manualiter [German] Organ compositions that are to be performed on the manual alone, i.e. without the pedals.