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

  • bolero [Spanish] A moderately slow Spanish dance in 3/4 time.
  • vocalization The singing of vocalises.
  • fugato [Italian] In the style of a fugue.
  • fixed form A form in which the poetic structure determines musical repetitions.
  • alt [German] Term used to indicate the tones of the first octave above the treble staff (G5 to F6), which are said to be “in alt”.
  • passamezzo [Italian] A 16th and 17th century Italian dance similar to or identical to the pavane.
  • dynamics The softness or loudness of a sound or note.
  • quartet A piece for four singers or instrumentalists. Also, a group of such musicians.
  • backbeat A style of rhythmic accentuation that puts accents on even beats. In common time this means having accents on beats 2 and 4.
  • festivo [Italian] Merry, festive.
  • harmonic Any integer multiple of the fundamental frequency of a tone. The fundamental frequency is considered to be the first harmonic; doubling its frequency you obtain the second harmonic, tripling it you obtain the third harmonic, and so on.
  • middle C First C below the 440 Hz A. It is the note on the ledger line halfway between the bass and treble clef on the grand staff. It is the lowest C that a concert flute can make.
  • répertoire [French] A list of compositions that an individual or ensemble is prepared to perform or that are available for performance.
  • Tzigane [French] Term used for a composition having gypsy influences or flavor.
  • dramatic soprano A soprano voice type with a heavier tone color and more power throughout her range.