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

  • feierlich [German] Solemn.
  • ut [Latin] The syllable first associated with the tonic of the key, now replaced by the syllable "Do" but still used in France. In the fixed Do system, this is always C.
  • cantando [Italian] Singing.
  • fermata An element of musical notation indicating that a note should be sustained for longer than its note value would indicate.
  • verve [French] A high degree of energy, excitement or spirit. Often referred to as the artistic inspiration and special feeling of excitement that is used by artists to realize the expression of ideas in performance or composition.
  • bass flute A flute that plays one octave below the concert flute.
  • con grazia [Italian] “With grace”.
  • brio [Italian] Vivacity, spirit, liveliness.
  • strathspey A lively Scottish dance in 4/4 time related to the reel. A characteristic of this dance is the peculiar rhythmic pattern of a dotted eighth note followed by a sixteenth, known as the Scotch snap.
  • reggae Jamaican popular music style characterized by offbeat rhythms and chanted vocals over a strong bass part.
  • con furia [Italian] “With fury”.
  • quintet A piece for five singers or instrumentalists. Also, a group of such musicians.
  • finale [Italian] The last movement in a composition of several movements.
  • ragtime Late nineteenth century piano style created by African-Americans, characterized by highly syncopated melodies.
  • moto [Italian] Motion, movement.