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

  • intonation A term referring to the proper production of a tone so that it is exactly in tune.
  • uguale [Italian] Equal, the same.
  • bergamasca [Italian] A kind of Renaissance clumsy rustic dance.
  • divertimento [Italian] Instrumental composition intended for entertainment, usually in a number of movements. The term is used particularly in the second half of the 18th century.
  • krakoviak A syncopated Polish dance in 2/4 time.
  • afflitto [Italian] Sad, melancholy.
  • energico [Italian] With energy, vigorous.
  • courante [French] A family of triple meter dances from the late Renaissance and the Baroque era.
  • vocalise [French] A vocal exercise that is sung without words, typically using different vowel sounds.
  • melisma (Plural: melismata.) A group of notes sung melodically to a single syllable.
  • expression The blend of feeling and intellect brought to a performance by the performer.
  • grand staff A combination of two staves with a brace, usually used for piano music.
  • calmando [Italian] Getting calm or quiet.
  • morendo [Italian] Literally, “dying away”. Gradually diminishing in volume and tempo, fading away.
  • echo A repetition or mimicking of a certain passage, usually with less force and volume than the original statement.