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

  • accompagnato [Italian] Accompanied.
  • duet A composition for two performers.
  • beat A throbbing that is heard when two tones are slightly out of tune.
  • rounded binary Compositional form with two sections, in which the second ends with a return to material from the first; each section is usually repeated.
  • camminando [Italian] Literally, “walking”. With easy and gentle progression.
  • mancando [Italian] A directive for the volume to grow quieter and die away.
  • prima donna [Italian] Literally, “first lady”. Term used in opera for the principal female singer of the opera or of the opera company.
  • larghetto [Italian] A tempo not quite as slow as largo, usually around 60–66 BPM.
  • lenteur [French] “Slowness”.
  • dampen A directive to muffle, deaden or restrain the tone of an instrument.
  • wind instrument Any instrument that produces sound by means of a column of air.
  • con passione [Italian] “With passion”.
  • principal A section leader in a large ensemble (band or orchestra) also called first chair, except for the first violins, where the leader is termed the concertmaster.
  • xylophone A percussion instrument consisting of a row of chromatically tuned wooden bars, arranged in the manner of a piano keyboard.
  • lent [French] Slow.