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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Some random terms

  • sentence Term applied to a complete, independent musical idea, usually consisting of two or four phrases, ending with a cadence.
  • arabesque [French] An ornament or an embellished work. The term is taken from the Arabic art and architecture which is very ornate.
  • rant A country dance of Scotland and Northern England in duple meter and binary form.
  • Gregorian chant Monophonic melody with a freely flowing, unmeasured vocal line; liturgical chant of the Roman Catholic Church.
  • Noël [French] Christmas.
  • interpretation The manner in which a performer carries out a composer's performance directions.
  • tertian harmony Term applied to harmony which is based upon the interval of the third.
  • con mala grazia [Italian] Ungracefully, awkwardly.
  • theme and variations A style of composition that first presents a basic theme and then develops and alters that theme in successive statements.
  • divertissment [French] A light, entertaining dance and music combination related to the divertimento.
  • staff Series of five horizontal lines upon and between which the musical notes are written, thus indicating, in connection with a clef, their pitch.
  • fermata An element of musical notation indicating that a note should be sustained for longer than its note value would indicate.
  • mazurka A lively Polish dance in 3/4 or 3/8 time with the accent usually on the second or third beat of the measure.
  • bar Each of the lines drawn perpendicularly across the staff to divide it into measures. In common usage the term may also mean measure.
  • Köchel Verzeichnis [German] The numbering system identifying compositions by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.