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

Hint: Don't worry about accents over letters, just skip them.

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…

You may browse the glossary alphabetically, or directly search for a term by using the search box above.

If you are looking for a symbol, check out our Guide to Musical Symbols.

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

  • air A short song, melody or tune, for voice or instrument.
  • ionian In the system of modes, the ionian mode is the one based on C; therefore, it is the modern major scale.
  • medley A piece of music that is composed of melodies of other compositons strung together.
  • articulation The manner in which adjacent notes of a melody are connected or separated. Woodwind and brass instruments generally articulate by tonguing, the use of the tongue to break the airflow into the instrument.
  • malinconico [Italian] Melancholic.
  • monothematic Work or movement based on a single theme.
  • pas [French] “Not”.
  • accompagnato [Italian] Accompanied.
  • recapitulation In sonata-allegro form, the final presentation of the original theme group, first presented in the exposition.
  • allegro [Italian] Literally, “cheerful”. A quick tempo marking, usually around 120–168 BPM.
  • minuet A 17th-century court dance in moderate triple meter, originating in France.
  • backfall A descending appoggiatura.
  • sight-singing The practice of singing a composition at sight, without previous preparation.
  • canticle A sacred hymn or song.
  • quarter note A note having the time duration of one fourth of a whole note.