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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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

  • feierlich [German] Solemn.
  • tuning The adjustment of the pitch of an instrument. Also, the set pitches to which an instrument is tuned.
  • larynx The upper part of the trachea in the human throat. It is the mechanism that varies the tone of the voice.
  • quadruplum [Latin] Polyphony having four voices. Also, the highest of these voices.
  • donna [Italian] Literally, “woman”, or “lady”. In opera, each of the principal female singers.
  • plainte [French] A song or instrumental composition with a slow, lamenting character.
  • fanfare A short, lively, loud, militaristic composition, usually composed for brass instruments and percussions.
  • al niente [Italian] Literally, “to nothing”. Fade to silence.
  • traditional music Music that is learned by oral transmission and is easily sung or played by most people.
  • villereccio [Italian] Rustic, rural.
  • grunge rock Contemporary Seattle-based rock style characterized by harsh guitar chords; hybrid of punk rock and heavy metal.
  • polonaise [French] Stately Polish processional dance in triple meter.
  • vocal range The range of notes that a singing voice can encompass.
  • vivo [Italian] Lively.
  • K Either Köchel or Kirkpatrick.