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

Hint: Don't worry about accents over letters, just skip them.

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

  • suives [French] Literally, “follow”. A directive to an accompanist to follow the musical interpretation of the soloist.
  • simple meter A meter in which the main beats are subdivided into twos, such as 2/4 or 3/4.
  • system The collection of staves, two or more, as used for writing down of keyboard, chamber, choral, or orchestral music.
  • adirato [Italian] Angry, wrathful.
  • tronco [Italian] A directive to perform a certain passage short or “cut off”.
  • lentamente [Italian] Slowly.
  • voce piena [Italian] “Full voice”.
  • modo [Italian] Way, manner.
  • squillante [Italian] Ringing.
  • natural minor scale A scale similar to the major scale, but with the third, sixth and seventh degrees lowered by a semitone.
  • clavier [French] Any keyboard instrument.
  • misurato [Italian] A directive to perform in a measured or strict tempo.
  • accablé [French] Overwhelmed.
  • stretto [Italian] In a fugue, that situation in which the subject and answer overlap one another, or when two subjects enter in close succession.
  • ballet [French] A representation of a story by means of dances or pantomimic action accompanied by music.