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

  • alla breve [Italian] A time marking indicating a quick duple meter, with the half note rather than the quarter note getting the beat (2/2 rather than 4/4).
  • traditional music Music that is learned by oral transmission and is easily sung or played by most people.
  • pietoso [Italian] Pitiful, merciful, compassionate.
  • modulation Moving from one key to another.
  • branle [French] Quick French group dance of the Renaissance.
  • ossia [Italian] An alternative version of a music, usually only a few measures long and marked as an added staff.
  • Motown A style of music that emerged in Detroit, Michigan in the late 1960s.
  • secco [Italian] Literally, “dry”. A directive to perform in an unornamented, cold manner. It usually implies that the notes should be of short duration.
  • empfindungsvoll [German] Feelingly.
  • larghetto [Italian] A tempo not quite as slow as largo, usually around 60–66 BPM.
  • dorian A mode used in Gregorian chant based upon the second tone of the major scale. In the key of C, the Dorian mode would be based on D, and would include D, E, F, G, A, B, C, D.
  • leggiero [Italian] Light, delicate.
  • gallant style A clear, elegant, uncomplicated style that arose in contrast to the more complex style of Baroque counterpoint.
  • inconsolato [Italian] Disconsolate, mournful.
  • third An interval of three diatonic degrees, counting the first and last degree.