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

Hint: Don't worry about accents over letters, just skip them.

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…

You may browse the glossary alphabetically, or directly search for a term by using the search box above.

If you are looking for a symbol, check out our Guide to Musical Symbols.

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

  • fragmentation The technique of developing a theme by dividing it into smaller units; most common in the music of the Viennese Classicists.
  • bepop Complex jazz style developed in the 1940s.
  • note A notational symbol used to represent the duration of a sound and, when placed on a music staff, to also indicate the pitch of the sound.
  • eight note A note having the time duration of one eighth of a whole note.
  • beat A throbbing that is heard when two tones are slightly out of tune.
  • spagnoletta [Italian] An Italian dance of the late 16th century.
  • sight-reading The practice of playing or singing a composition at sight, without previous preparation.
  • ionian In the system of modes, the ionian mode is the one based on C; therefore, it is the modern major scale.
  • strict counterpoint The strict application of the rules of part writing.
  • anthem A choral setting of an English religious text similar to a motet, usually used in church with or without organ accompaniment.
  • oral tradition Music that is transmitted by example or imitation and performed from memory.
  • lamentevole [Italian] Plaintive, mournful.
  • seconda volta [Italian] “Second time”; may refer to the second ending of a repetition.
  • fantasia [Italian] Free instrumental piece of fairly large dimensions, in an improvisational style.
  • klein [German] Literally, “little”. In reference to intervals, “minor“.