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

  • pasticcio [Italian] A composition assembled from passages taken from numerous other sources by various composers.
  • Schottische [German] A German round dance in duple time.
  • passing note In part writing, A non-harmonic note that appears between two notes in stepwise motion. Usually it is a link between a melodic interval of a third in one of the voices.
  • ictus [Latin] The instant when a beat occurs.
  • 8va [Italian] A directive to perform an octave higher than written.
  • staff Series of five horizontal lines upon and between which the musical notes are written, thus indicating, in connection with a clef, their pitch.
  • estinto [Italian] Literally, “extinguished”. A directive to perform as soft as possible.
  • goliard song Medieval Latin-texted secular song, often with corrupt or lewd lyrics; associated with wandering scholars.
  • pointed arms On a flute, arms connecting the keys to the rods which are pointed and extend to the keys' centers; found on more expensive flutes.
  • part In instrumental or choral music, the music for a single instrument or voice.
  • larghissimo [Italian] An extremely slow tempo, slower than largo.
  • rondò [Italian] A form in which a principal theme (sometimes called the refrain) alternates with one or more contrasting themes, generally called episodes, but also occasionally referred to as digressions, or couplets. Possible patterns in the Classical Period include ABA, ABACA, ABABCA, etc.
  • arabesque [French] An ornament or an embellished work. The term is taken from the Arabic art and architecture which is very ornate.
  • Longo numbers A numbering system identifying keyboard sonatas by Domenico Scarlatti.
  • body The middle section of a flute, with the majority of the keys.