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

  • tombeau [French] Literally, “grave”. An instrumental funeral composition or a composition which commemorates the death of someone.
  • scena [Italian] A term used to describe the stage, scene or act of an opera. Also, a term for a set of vocal movements in a theatrical production, usually including a recitative, arioso, and aria.
  • inline G On a flute, the standard position of the left-hand G (third-finger) key: in line with the first and second keys.
  • vite [French] Fast.
  • trill Ornament consisting of the rapid alternation between one tone and the next above it.
  • double exposition In a concerto, a twofold statement of the theme, once by the orchestra and once by the soloist.
  • opus [Latin] A number, often assigned by a publisher, used to classify a particular work of a composer.
  • seconda volta [Italian] “Second time”; may refer to the second ending of a repetition.
  • luttuoso [Italian] Mournful.
  • simple interval An interval covering a single octave or less.
  • crescendo [Italian] A directive to smoothly increase the volume.
  • vocal cords The vocal organs in the human being which produce sound.
  • sonata-allegro form The opening movement of the sonata cycle, consisting of themes that are stated in the first section (exposition), developed in the second section (development), and restated in the third section (recapitulation).
  • reduction A simplified arrangement of a composition.
  • sentence Term applied to a complete, independent musical idea, usually consisting of two or four phrases, ending with a cadence.