Multilingual Music Glossary

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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

  • heavy metal Rock style that gained popularity in the 1970s, characterized by simple, repetitive ideas and loud, distorted instrumental solos.
  • transposing instrument Those instruments which are notated in one key on paper, yet sound another key when they are performed.
  • metronome Device used to indicate the tempo by sounding regular beats at adjustable speeds.
  • recorder A wind instrument of the Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque eras. The recorder is a simple instrument related to the flute; it is sounded by blowing into one end and the pitch is adjusted by covering finger holes.
  • con grazia [Italian] “With grace”.
  • dramatic soprano A soprano voice type with a heavier tone color and more power throughout her range.
  • nonet A composition for nine instruments.
  • cut off An arm and hand motion by a conductor that indicates to an ensemble that they stop performing. This is normally done at the end of a composition, at the end of a movement or section, or on a fermata.
  • col [Italian] “With the”
  • legatissimo [Italian] Very legato, extremely smooth and connected.
  • doppio [Italian] “Double”.
  • second The interval between two neighbouring tones of a scale. Since a diatonic scale consists of alternating semitones and whole tones, the size of a second depends on the scale degrees in question.
  • eilig [German] Hurried, hasty, speedy.
  • spinto [Italian] A term describing a lyric voice, usually that of a soprano or tenor, that can also achieve powerful, dramatic effects. Also, a part written for a voice of such character.
  • irato [Italian] Irate, angry.