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

  • volta subito [Italian] A directive to turn the page quickly.
  • half note A note that has half the duration of time of a whole note.
  • con disperazione [Italian] Desperately.
  • technique The mechanical aspect of performing a composition.
  • con furia [Italian] “With fury”.
  • ricapitolazione [Italian] Recapitulation.
  • additive meter A pattern of beats that subdivide into smaller, irregular groups. It is common in Eastern European musics, and contemporary compositions attempting to emulate such a sound. For example, a time signature like 9/8, which is normally subdivided as 3+3+3, may be subdivided by the composer as 2+3+2+2 for musical effect.
  • meter The basic scheme of note values and accents which remains unaltered throughout a composition or a section of it.
  • Klang [German] Sound, tune, ringing, sonority.
  • lyrics The words of a song.
  • canto [Italian] Literally, “singing”. The highest vocal part in choral music.
  • tief [German] Deep, low.
  • zart [German] Tender, delicate.
  • schwungvoll [German] Rousing, spirited, energetic.
  • fife A small flute with a narrower bore, thus producing a higher, more piercing sound than a flute. Generally used in military bands.