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

  • Feldmusik [German] Music performed outdoors on wind instruments.
  • perfect pitch The ability of certain people to identify a given pitch without reference to any other pitch.
  • diatonic scale A seven note musical scale, consisting of five whole steps and two half steps.
  • burlesco [Italian] Jocular, in a playful style.
  • bar Each of the lines drawn perpendicularly across the staff to divide it into measures. In common usage the term may also mean measure.
  • Burgundian chanson Fifteenth century French composition, usually for three voices, some or all of which may be played by instruments.
  • shanty A song sung by sailors while working on a ship. A shanty has a chorus, which is sung by all, and verses that are usually sung by one voice.
  • nicht [German] “Not“.
  • rubato [Italian] “Robbed” time; the subtle pressing forward and holding back the tempo in performance.
  • overture An introductory movement, as in an opera or oratorio, often presenting melodies from arias to come. Also an orchestral work for concert performance.
  • part song A vocal composition for two or more voices, usually unaccompanied.
  • tronco [Italian] A directive to perform a certain passage short or “cut off”.
  • languendo [Italian] Languishing.
  • lyric opera Hybrid form combining elements of grand opera and opéra comique and featuring appealing melodies and romantic drama.
  • tema [Italian] Theme, subject.