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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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

  • da capo [Italian] Literally, “from the beginning”. A directive to go back to the beginning of the composition.
  • a cappella [Italian] Choral or vocal music performed without instrumental accompaniment.
  • impromptu [French] A single-movement piano composition of the Romantic era, usually short, with a spontaneous character.
  • estinto [Italian] Literally, “extinguished”. A directive to perform as soft as possible.
  • habanera [Spanish] Moderate duple meter dance of Cuban origin, popular in the nineteenth century. It is based on a characteristic rhythmic figure.
  • figure A short musical phrase.
  • affabilmente [Italian] Easily, gently and agreeably.
  • modulation Moving from one key to another.
  • march A military piece characterized by strongly accented duple meter and clear sectional structures.
  • fourth An interval of four diatonic scale tones, counting the first and last tone.
  • placido [Italian] Calm, placid.
  • grand opera A style of opera that was developed in France in the 19th century that involved no spoken dialogue. It contained huge choruses, serious plots, elaborate dance episodes, ornate costumes and spectacular scenery.
  • al fine [Italian] An indication to repeat a composition either from the beginning (da capo), or from the dal segno symbol, to the place marked fine (Italian for “end”).
  • exposition The first statement of a theme.
  • mute A mechanical device used with string and brass instruments to muffle the tone.