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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Some random terms

  • fois [French] “Time”, as in “first time” (première fois) or “second time” (deuxieme fois).
  • tourney A composition created for a tournament, popular in the 17th century especially in Italy and France. Tourneys were often used in weddings and other festive occasions.
  • staccato [Italian] A style of playing notes in a detached, separated, distinct manner, as opposed to legato.
  • laisser vibrer [French] A directive to the performer of a harp, piano, cymbal, or other struck or plucked instrument that the sound should not be damped or stopped after the initial attack, but should be allowed to die away naturally.
  • upbeat The last beat of any measure, usually a weak beat.
  • vamp Short passage with simple rhythm and harmony that introduces a soloist.
  • no chord A directive placed over a note (or a series of notes) signifying that the note(s) should be performed without accompaniment. Typically found in popular music notation.
  • tasto solo [Italian] Literally, “key only”. A directive indicating that a note is to be performed without harmony, especially used in compositions that use continuo.
  • amaramente [Italian] Bitterly, mournfully, grievingly.
  • leggerissimo [Italian] Very light, very delicate.
  • canzona [Italian] A 16th-century multipart vocal setting of a literary canzone, or a 16th- and 17th-century instrumental composition.
  • diatonic Melody or harmony built from the seven tones of a major or minor scale.
  • chord progression Series of chords played in order.
  • strepitoso [Italian] Boisterous, noisy.
  • popular music Music of the common people.