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

  • plus [French] “More”.
  • saltando [Italian] Proceeding in leaps or skips.
  • jota [Spanish] A type of Spanish dance song characterized by a quick triple meter and guitar and castanet accompaniment.
  • pasticcio [Italian] A composition assembled from passages taken from numerous other sources by various composers.
  • whole note The note with the longest duration in currently used Western music notation.
  • Tzigane [French] Term used for a composition having gypsy influences or flavor.
  • veloce [Italian] Fast.
  • Wiederholung [German] Repetition.
  • acciaccatura [Italian] A short grace note, typically notated with a slash through the stem or flag, that quickly resolves to the main note.
  • chromaticism Use of tones extraneous to a diatonic scale (major or minor).
  • register A division of the range of an instrument or singing voice. Usually registers are defined by a change in the quality of the sound between a lower range and a higher range.
  • envoi [French] A short final stanza of a ballade which serves as a summary or dedication.
  • Renaissance The music of the period circa 1400–1600, directly following the Middle Ages and preceding the baroque era. Its style is characterized by charming melodies, imitative harmonies and lively ornamentation.
  • quodlibet [Latin] A humorous composition that contains snatches of popular melodies and texts presented concurrently or consecutively.
  • concerto [Italian] A three-part musical work in which one solo instrument is accompanied by an orchestra.