Multilingual Music Glossary
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
- a due
![[Italian]](https://www.flutetunes.com/img/languages/it.png "Italian")
For two voices or instruments; a duet. Also used to indicate that two instruments playing from the same part or score are to play in unison, after divisi or a solo passage for one of the instruments. - signature Key signature or time signature.
- zart
![[German]](https://www.flutetunes.com/img/languages/de.png "German")
Tender, delicate. - Noël
![[French]](https://www.flutetunes.com/img/languages/fr.png "French")
Christmas. - mezzo forte Moderately loud. Not quite so loud as forte.
- deciso Decided, bold.
- register A division of the range of an instrument or singing voice. Usually registers are defined by a change in the quality of the sound between a lower range and a higher range.
- fragmentation The technique of developing a theme by dividing it into smaller units; most common in the music of the Viennese Classicists.
- misterioso Mysterious.
- rallentando Slowing down.
- modulation Moving from one key to another.
- resolution In partwriting, the resolving of a dissonant sound to a consonant sound in the following chord. Also, the conclusive ending to a musical statement.
- seventh An interval of seven diatonic degrees, counting the first and last degree.
- tombeau Literally, “grave”. An instrumental funeral composition or a composition which commemorates the death of someone.
- ancora “Again”.