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

  • jarabe [Spanish] Traditional Mexican dance form with multiple sections in contrasting meters and tempos.
  • dorian A mode used in Gregorian chant based upon the second tone of the major scale. In the key of C, the Dorian mode would be based on D, and would include D, E, F, G, A, B, C, D.
  • sempre [Italian] Always.
  • laisser vibrer [French] A directive to the performer of a harp, piano, cymbal, or other struck or plucked instrument that the sound should not be damped or stopped after the initial attack, but should be allowed to die away naturally.
  • partita [Italian] In the 18th and 19th century, a multi-movement composition consisting of dances and non-dance movements or entirely of non-dance movements.
  • con passione [Italian] “With passion”.
  • dal niente [Italian] Literally, “from nothing”. Out of silence.
  • Schottische [German] A German round dance in duple time.
  • bar Each of the lines drawn perpendicularly across the staff to divide it into measures. In common usage the term may also mean measure.
  • precisamente [Italian] Precisely, exactly.
  • timbre [French] The quality of a sound; that component of a tone that causes different instruments (for example a flute and a violin) to sound different from each other while they are both playing the same note.
  • Schleppend [German] Dragging.
  • signature Key signature or time signature.
  • body The middle section of a flute, with the majority of the keys.
  • retrograde Backward statement of a melody.