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

  • tonic The note upon which a scale or key is based.
  • volume Degree of loudness or softness of a sound.
  • belebend [German] Lively.
  • dampen A directive to muffle, deaden or restrain the tone of an instrument.
  • rhythm section In a popular music band or ensemble, the performers who establish the rhythmic pulse of a song or musical piece, and who lay down the chordal structure.
  • squillante [Italian] Ringing.
  • orchestration The practice of writing music for an orchestra (or, more loosely, for any musical ensemble) or of adapting for orchestra music composed for another medium.
  • brio [Italian] Vivacity, spirit, liveliness.
  • closed-hole A flute finger key which is fully covered.
  • al segno [Italian] A directive to return to the sign.
  • vago [Italian] Vague, indefinite.
  • basse dance [French] A graceful, stately court dance of the early Renaissance.
  • traditional music Music that is learned by oral transmission and is easily sung or played by most people.
  • ensemble [French] A group of musicians that perform as a unit.
  • disjunct A melodic line that moves by leaps and skips rather than in steps.