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

  • spagnoletta [Italian] An Italian dance of the late 16th century.
  • appoggiatura [Italian] Ornamental note, usually taking half of the duration of the main note it precedes.
  • vamp till ready In 20th century music, an indication to the accompanist to repeat a passage until the soloist is prepared to enter.
  • downbeat The first beat of a measure, the strongest in any meter.
  • chart Colloquial or jazz term for a score or arrangement.
  • accent The stress of one tone over others.
  • semitone A minor second; the smallest interval in the system of Western music.
  • burlesque [French] A humorous composition, usually involving parody or grotesque exaggeration.
  • crescendo [Italian] A directive to smoothly increase the volume.
  • affannato [Italian] Anguished.
  • lointain [French] “Distant”, “faraway”.
  • double whole note A note twice as long as a whole note. Mainly used in pre-1650 music.
  • metrical modulation The shifting from one meter to another in the middle of a composition.
  • lip plate The part of a flute which contacts the player's lower lip, allowing precise positioning and direction of the air stream.
  • teneramente [Italian] Tenderly.