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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Some random terms

  • ballade [French] A one-movement musical piece with lyrical and dramatic narrative qualities, usually having a text dealing with courtly love.
  • codetta [Italian] Literally, “little tail”. A passage similar to a coda, but on a smaller scale, concluding a section of a work instead of the work as a whole.
  • madrigal choir Small vocal ensemble that specializes in a cappella secular works.
  • lauda [Latin] Laud, hymn of praise.
  • tremolo [Italian] A rapid alternation between two notes.
  • Tafelmusik [German] Literally, “table music”. Music that is performed at feasts and banquets.
  • phrase A natural division of the melodic line, comparable to a sentence of speech.
  • sextet A piece for six singers or instrumentalists. Also, a group of such musicians.
  • riflessivo [Italian] Reflective, thoughtful.
  • presque [French] “Almost”.
  • phrygian The mode based upon the third note of the major scale. In the key of C major, phrygian mode would start on the key of E, and include all the notes of the C major scale.
  • amaramente [Italian] Bitterly, mournfully, grievingly.
  • answer Second entry of the subject in a fugue, usually pitched a fourth below or a fifth above the original subject. If the theme is altered slightly in the answer, then it is said to be a tonal answer, if it is entirely unaltered, it is said to be a real answer.
  • duration The length of time that a note is sounded or a rest (silence) is observed.
  • verve [French] A high degree of energy, excitement or spirit. Often referred to as the artistic inspiration and special feeling of excitement that is used by artists to realize the expression of ideas in performance or composition.