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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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

  • degree Any tone of the diatonic scale.
  • Handel-Werke-Verzeichnis [German] The numbering system identifying compositions by George Frederic Handel.
  • Requiem [Latin] A composition to honor the deceased.
  • rondellus [Latin] A 13th century English style of three-voice composition.
  • ancora [Italian] “Again”.
  • circular breathing Technique used by players of some wind instruments to produce a continuous tone without interruption. This is accomplished by breathing in through the nose while simultaneously blowing out through the mouth using air stored in the cheeks.
  • perfect Term applied to the intervals of a unison, octave, fourth, and fifth when they are exactly in tune and not augmented nor diminished.
  • suono [Italian] Sound.
  • mazurka A lively Polish dance in 3/4 or 3/8 time with the accent usually on the second or third beat of the measure.
  • bolero [Spanish] A moderately slow Spanish dance in 3/4 time.
  • diminuendo [Italian] A directive to smoothly decrease the volume.
  • ictus [Latin] The instant when a beat occurs.
  • gavotte [French] Duple meter baroque dance of a pastoral character.
  • pasticcio [Italian] A composition assembled from passages taken from numerous other sources by various composers.
  • gypsy scale A scale resembling the harmonic minor scale, but with an augmented fourth. It is called the Gypsy scale because of its exotic sound and its use in Hungarian music.