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

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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Some random terms

  • bourrée [French] An old French dance in use during the Baroque period, very rapid and hearty, usually in 2/4 or 2/2 time.
  • calypso A style of Afro-Caribbean music which originated in Trinidad and Tobago in the beginning of the 20th century.
  • anacrusis One or more unstressed notes preceding the first downbeat in a bar.
  • polychord The simultaneous use of two or more simple chords (such as triads), a technique used in 20th century compositions.
  • countersubject The secondary theme of a fugue, heard against the subject.
  • compound harmony Regular harmony with an added octave in the bass.
  • K Either Köchel or Kirkpatrick.
  • minor Term referring to a sequence of notes that define the tonality of the minor scale. The main difference from the major scale is the third, which is lowered by a semitone. The sixth and seventh degrees are usually lowered, too, generating the natural minor scale.
  • non-harmonic note In part writing, a note that is dissonant with other notes in the same chord.
  • impromptu [French] A single-movement piano composition of the Romantic era, usually short, with a spontaneous character.
  • patetico [Italian] “Pathetic”, with great emotion.
  • tonality The organization of a composition around a tonic.
  • vivacissimamente [Italian] A directive to perform in a very lively or brisk manner.
  • pianissimo [Italian] Very soft, softer than piano.
  • music Broadly speaking, sounds organized to express a wide variety of human emotions.