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

  • rondeau [French] A Medieval and early Renaissance musical form, based on a popular contemporary poetic form. The rondeau form calls for a rigid pattern of repetition of verse and refrain, following the evolving rhyme-scheme of the poetic form.
  • unison Interval between two notes of the same pitch; the simultaneous playing of the same note.
  • militare [Italian] Military.
  • register A division of the range of an instrument or singing voice. Usually registers are defined by a change in the quality of the sound between a lower range and a higher range.
  • Klang [German] Sound, tune, ringing, sonority.
  • fermata An element of musical notation indicating that a note should be sustained for longer than its note value would indicate.
  • col [Italian] “With the”
  • upbeat The last beat of any measure, usually a weak beat.
  • common chord A chord consisting of the root, third, and fifth.
  • decani [Latin] In Anglican church music, referring to the half of the choir sitting on the dean's side of the church.
  • feierlich [German] Solemn.
  • interval Difference in pitch between two notes.
  • tronco [Italian] A directive to perform a certain passage short or “cut off”.
  • quodlibet [Latin] A humorous composition that contains snatches of popular melodies and texts presented concurrently or consecutively.
  • deux [French] “Two”.