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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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

  • modérément [French] “Moderately”.
  • passing note In part writing, A non-harmonic note that appears between two notes in stepwise motion. Usually it is a link between a melodic interval of a third in one of the voices.
  • bestimmt [German] With decision.
  • ragtime Late nineteenth century piano style created by African-Americans, characterized by highly syncopated melodies.
  • werden [German] To become.
  • rasch [German] Rapid, swift.
  • 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.
  • dotted note A note that has a dot placed to the right of the notehead, indicating that the duration of the note should be increased by half again its original duration.
  • dampen A directive to muffle, deaden or restrain the tone of an instrument.
  • part writing The component of counterpoint that recognizes each voice as an individual, horizontal melody rather than as a part of the resultant, vertical chords.
  • alt [German] Term used to indicate the tones of the first octave above the treble staff (G5 to F6), which are said to be “in alt”.
  • larynx The upper part of the trachea in the human throat. It is the mechanism that varies the tone of the voice.
  • galliard [French] Lively triple-meter French court dance.
  • finale [Italian] The last movement in a composition of several movements.
  • lentissimo [Italian] Very slow.