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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Some random terms

  • R. Either Raabe or Rinaldi.
  • tief [German] Deep, low.
  • sinfonietta [Italian] An orchestral work of smaller proportions than a full symphony.
  • backbeat A style of rhythmic accentuation that puts accents on even beats. In common time this means having accents on beats 2 and 4.
  • parallel keys Two keys, one major and one minor, having the same tonic.
  • catch A humorous composition for three or four voices common in England during the 16th century. The parts are written so that each singer catches up to the other parts, giving the words different meanings than if each line was sung alone, usually to a humorous or bawdy effect.
  • expression The blend of feeling and intellect brought to a performance by the performer.
  • closed-hole A flute finger key which is fully covered.
  • lentezza [Italian] “Slowness”.
  • bourrée [French] An old French dance in use during the Baroque period, very rapid and hearty, usually in 2/4 or 2/2 time.
  • gizmo key On a flute, an optional key on the B foot joint which can enhance the responsiveness of C7 (the highest C playable on a flute).
  • très [French] “Very”, “much”.
  • jig A vigorous dance originating in the British Isles in the 15th century or earlier, usually in compound meter.
  • duct flute A type of flute, whose pitch is produced by an air column moving through a channel, or duct, and directed to strike a sharp edge or lip causing the air column to split and vibrate. Several types of duct flutes include recorder, flageolet, penny whistle, whistle flute and slide whistle.
  • improvisation Creation of a musical composition while it is being performed.