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

  • duple meter A rhythmic pattern with the the number of beats per measure being divisible by two.
  • flessibile [Italian] Flexible.
  • paso doble [Spanish] Literally, “double step”. A Spanish dance in a brisk duple meter, typically 2/4 time.
  • motive The briefest intelligible and self-contained fragment of a musical theme or subject.
  • Schleppend [German] Dragging.
  • aeolian A mode used in Gregorian chant based upon the sixth tone of the major scale. In the key of C, the aeolian mode would be based on A, and would include A, B, C, D, E, F, G, A.
  • cent A logarithmic unit used in measuring the difference between two pitches in an equal-tempered scale. One cent is one one-hundredth of an equal-tempered semitone.
  • loure [French] A slow, dignified French dance of the 17th and 18th centuries usually in 3/4 or 6/4 time.
  • semitone The interval of a minor second.
  • meantone temperament Temperament yielding acoustically pure thirds by decreasing the natural fifth by 16 cents. Due to the non-circular character of this temperament, only a limited set of keys are playable. Used for tuning keyboard instruments for performance of pre-1650 music.
  • savamment [French] Skilfully, expertly; with knowledge and experience.
  • common chord A chord that appears in more than one key. Frequently used in modulation.
  • saltando [Italian] Proceeding in leaps or skips.
  • Klavier [German] A keyboard instrument; usually, a piano.
  • brioso [Italian] Vivacious, spirited, lively.