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

  • outer voices The highest and the lowest voices in a polyphonic composition.
  • foot joint The last section of a flute, played farthest towards the right.
  • volta subito [Italian] A directive to turn the page quickly.
  • arabesque [French] An ornament or an embellished work. The term is taken from the Arabic art and architecture which is very ornate.
  • acciaccatura [Italian] A short grace note, typically notated with a slash through the stem or flag, that quickly resolves to the main note.
  • double exposition In a concerto, a twofold statement of the theme, once by the orchestra and once by the soloist.
  • stentato [Italian] Labored, heavy, in a dragging manner, sluggish. Alternatively, strong and forced.
  • open fifth A chord comprised of the tonic and the fifth, with no third present.
  • section A group of identical or similar instruments in an ensemble.
  • K Either Köchel or Kirkpatrick.
  • Zungenstoss [German] Tongue thrust.
  • festivo [Italian] Merry, festive.
  • coda [Italian] Literally, “tail”. The last part of a piece, usually added to a standard form to bring it to a close.
  • march A military piece characterized by strongly accented duple meter and clear sectional structures.
  • transposition Shifting a melody up or down in pitch, while keeping the same relative pitches.