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

  • body The middle section of a flute, with the majority of the keys.
  • fertig [German] Dexterous, nimble, quick.
  • courante [French] A family of triple meter dances from the late Renaissance and the Baroque era.
  • savart [French] A unit of measurement for musical intervals, corresponding to about 3.986 cents.
  • parallel motion In part writing, parallel motion occurs when two voices move keeping exactly the same interval between them.
  • passamezzo [Italian] A 16th and 17th century Italian dance similar to or identical to the pavane.
  • stretto [Italian] A directive to quicken the tempo.
  • réjouissance [French] A jubilant composition used to conclude some Baroque orchestral suites.
  • alborada [Spanish] Literally, “dawn”. Lively instrumental composition to be played at daybreak, usually in 6/8 time.
  • Trommelbass [German] Literally, “drum-bass”. A bass line that contains steady, constant, repeated notes.
  • tief [German] Deep, low.
  • calypso A style of Afro-Caribbean music which originated in Trinidad and Tobago in the beginning of the 20th century.
  • nach [German] “After”.
  • larynx The upper part of the trachea in the human throat. It is the mechanism that varies the tone of the voice.
  • head joint The top section of a flute, with the tone hole where the player initiates the sound by blowing air across the opening.