Multilingual Music Glossary
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Some random terms
- ritenuto
Literally, “kept back”. Immediate reduction of speed. - upbeat The last beat of any measure, usually a weak beat.
- tenerezza
Tenderness. - ancora
“Still”, as in “still more slowly”. - spianato
leveled, even, smooth. - Ländler
A folk dance in 3/4 time which was popular in Austria, south Germany and German Switzerland at the end of the 18th century. - modal Having to do with modes; this term is applied most particularly to music that is based upon the Gregorian modes, rather than to music based upon the major, minor, or any other scale.
- beruhigend
Relaxing, melodious. - second The interval between two neighbouring tones of a scale. Since a diatonic scale consists of alternating semitones and whole tones, the size of a second depends on the scale degrees in question.
- sottovoce
Almost whispering. - pitch Highness or lowness of a tone, depending on the frequency (rate of vibration).
- verse A single line in a metrical composition, e.g. a poem. However, the word has come to represent any division or grouping of words in such a composition, which traditionally had been referred to as a stanza.
- lamentevole
Plaintive, mournful. - galop
A lively ballroom dance, generally in 2/4 time. - gallant style A clear, elegant, uncomplicated style that arose in contrast to the more complex style of Baroque counterpoint.