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
- zu
Shown as zu2, zu3, etc., it is a directive to indicate the number of musicians to perform the indicated passage of music. - giusto
A directive to perform in an equal, steady, exact tempo. - cantio
A religious, monophonic, Latin song of the later Middle Ages. - ternary form A three-part musical structure (ABA) based on statement (A), contrast (B) and repetition (A).
- mosso
Moved, agitated. - interlude Any piece of music played or sung between the movements of a larger composition.
- sottovoce
Almost whispering. - Hertz
The basic unit of measurement of frequency, definable as one cycle per second. Usually abbreviated “Hz”. - wind ensemble An instrumental ensemble consisting of woodwind, brass and percussion instruments.
- moresca
An exotic Renaissance dance simulating a battle between the Moors and the Christians. - Kammerton
Literally, “Chamber pitch”. The pitch system used for instruments in Germany during the baroque period. In this system, the A above middle C was probably about 410–425 Hz. - tailgate A slang term for a trombone Glissando in Dixieland jazz.
- head voice The highest register of the voice, excluding falsetto.
- motteggiando
Bantering. - con
“With”.