Multilingual Music Glossary

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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

  • paso doble [Spanish] Literally, “double step”. A Spanish dance in a brisk duple meter, typically 2/4 time.
  • chaconne [French] Baroque form in 3/4 time similar to the passacaglia, in which the variations are based on a repeated chord progression.
  • invention Mostly in reference to baroque music, a short, contrapuntal composition, usually implying an originality of idea.
  • haut [French] Literally, “high”. Medieval category of loud instruments, used principally for outdoor occasions.
  • diabolus in musica [Latin] Literally, “the devil in music”. A medieval name for the tritone.
  • sinfonia [Italian] A term brought into use in the late Renaissance with a variety of specific meanings, generally implying a composition similar to a canzona or a prelude. By the 18th century the term had a similar implication as the term sonata. During the 18th century it came to be used for a three movement composition, until it gradually took on the meaning of our modern term symphony.
  • measure The smallest metrical divisions of a composition, containing a fixed number of beats, the first of which bears an accent.
  • ninth An interval of five diatonic degrees, counting the first and last degree.
  • chromatic scale A scale consisting of all 12 semitones.
  • zeloso [Italian] Zealous, keen, earnest.
  • clos [French] The second ending of a repeated section.
  • fugato [Italian] In the style of a fugue.
  • serialism A method of composition in which various musical elements such as pitch, rhythm, dynamics, and tone color may be put in order according to a fixed series.
  • varsovienne [French] A French dance in 3/4 time with a moderate tempo.
  • tie A curved line drawn over or under the heads of two notes of the same pitch indicating that they should be played as a single note.