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

  • fermata An element of musical notation indicating that a note should be sustained for longer than its note value would indicate.
  • compound interval An interval greater than an octave.
  • tyrolienne [French] A dance form in quick triple meter.
  • embouchure [French] The placement of the lips, lower facial muscles and jaws in playing a wind instrument.
  • decibel A logarithmic unit for measuring the intensity of sound, corresponding to the listener's perception of loudness.
  • non-imitative counterpoint A musical texture in which independent voices of different character compete for attention.
  • quintet A piece for five singers or instrumentalists. Also, a group of such musicians.
  • canción [Spanish] A popular genre of Latin American music, particularly in Cuba, where many of the compositions originate.
  • fortepiano [Italian] A dynamic marking (fp) directing the performer to attack the written note at the dynamic level of forte (loud) followed by an immediate decrease in volume to piano (soft).
  • disjunct A melodic line that moves by leaps and skips rather than in steps.
  • voice Either human voice or a melodic layer or part of a polyphonic composition.
  • ninth An interval of five diatonic degrees, counting the first and last degree.
  • microtone Musical interval smaller than a semitone, prevalent in some non-Western musics and in some twentieth century art music.
  • ravvivando [Italian] Animating, brightening up; quickening.
  • counterpoint The art of combining two or more melodies to be performed simultaneously. In counterpoint, the melody is supported by another melody rather than by chords.