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

  • religioso [Italian] Religious, devout.
  • 15mb [Italian] A directive to perform two octaves lower than written.
  • envoi [French] A short final stanza of a ballade which serves as a summary or dedication.
  • musique concrète [French] Music made up of natural sounds and sound effects that are recorded and then manipulated electronically.
  • canon Strict imitation, in which one voice imitates another at a staggered time interval.
  • ensemble [French] A group of musicians that perform as a unit.
  • symphony In the early 18th century, any instrumental prelude, interlude, or postlude. In modern usage, the term is applied to a large composition for orchestra, generally in three or four movements. The symphony may also be defined as a sonata for orchestra.
  • microtone Musical interval smaller than a semitone, prevalent in some non-Western musics and in some twentieth century art music.
  • beruhigend [German] Relaxing, melodious.
  • recitativo secco [Italian] Recitative accompanied only by continuo.
  • couplet [French] A term used in the 1600s and 1700s for the intermediate sections of a rondeau.
  • ripieno [Italian] The larger of the two ensembles in the concerto grosso.
  • grandioso [Italian] Majestic, grand, noble.
  • patetico [Italian] “Pathetic”, with great emotion.
  • galliard [French] Lively triple-meter French court dance.