Multilingual Music Glossary
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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
- gaudioso
Joyous, joyful. - zu
Shown as zu2, zu3, etc., it is a directive to indicate the number of musicians to perform the indicated passage of music. - signature Key signature or time signature.
- canto
Literally, “singing”. The highest vocal part in choral music. - open-hole A flute finger key with a perforated center, allowing the use of techniques such as pitch bending or glissando.
- half note A note that has half the duration of time of a whole note.
- pas de deux
An established item in ballet consisting of a dance performed by two dancers. - misterioso
Mysterious. - moins
“Less”. - post-modern A term adopted around the mid-1970s to describe our current eclectic, experimental age.
- Köchel Verzeichnis
The numbering system identifying compositions by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. - acciaccatura
A short grace note, typically notated with a slash through the stem or flag, that quickly resolves to the main note. - Tafelmusik
Literally, “table music”. Music that is performed at feasts and banquets. - break In the flute or other wind instrument, the place between the lower register of the instrument and the higher. For example, the break on the flute is between C-sharp and D.
- severità
Strictness, severity.