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

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

  • vaudeville [French] A variety show with unrelated acts consisting of stand-up comedy, virtuoso instrumental and vocal performance, and song and dance acts.
  • decani [Latin] In Anglican church music, referring to the half of the choir sitting on the dean's side of the church.
  • empfindungsvoll [German] Feelingly.
  • jive A form of blues popular in the 1940s.
  • ictus [Latin] The instant when a beat occurs.
  • gravità [Italian] Gravity, utmost seriousness or solemnity.
  • divertimento [Italian] Instrumental composition intended for entertainment, usually in a number of movements. The term is used particularly in the second half of the 18th century.
  • dolce [Italian] Sweet, soft, with tender emotion.
  • spigliato [Italian] Self-confident, bold, smooth.
  • barcarolle [French] A folk song sung by Venetian gondoliers (oarsmen of the traditional Venetian rowing boat called gondola), or a piece of music composed in that style. It is characterized by a rhythm reminiscent of the gondolier's stroke, almost invariably a moderate tempo 6/8 meter.
  • fado [Portuguese] A type of street song and dance of Portugal, usually accompanied by a guitar.
  • sehr [German] “Very”, “much”.
  • mutig [German] Courageous, spirited.
  • foot joint The last section of a flute, played farthest towards the right.
  • phrasing The clear rendering in musical performance of the phrases of a melody.