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

Hint: Don't worry about accents over letters, just skip them.

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…

You may browse the glossary alphabetically, or directly search for a term by using the search box above.

If you are looking for a symbol, check out our Guide to Musical Symbols.

Please note: a music glossary is just like a dictionary. It contains explanations to musical terms. If you are looking for a piece, please go here instead: search tunes.

Some random terms

  • quintus [Latin] Term used in the 16th century for the fifth voice in a composition having five or more vocal parts. Sometimes it was a countermelody added on top of the usual four voices.
  • equal temperament Tuning system dividing the octave into 12 equal semitones.
  • leggiero [Italian] Light, delicate.
  • semitone A minor second; the smallest interval in the system of Western music.
  • gavotte [French] Duple meter baroque dance of a pastoral character.
  • bis [Latin] Literally, “twice”. A directive to repeat a passage.
  • MIDI Acronym for “Musical Instrument Digital Interface”; technology standard that allows networking of computers with electronic musical instruments.
  • appassionato [Italian] Passionate, with intense emotion or feeling.
  • dirge A generic term used for a composition designed specifically for a funeral or in commemoration of the dead.
  • fauxbourdon [French] A technique of musical harmonization used in the late Middle Ages and early Renaissance. It consists of the cantus firmus and two other parts a sixth and a perfect fourth below.
  • oral transmission Preservation of music without the aid of written notation.
  • secco [Italian] Literally, “dry”. A directive to perform in an unornamented, cold manner. It usually implies that the notes should be of short duration.
  • bravura [Italian] Literally, “skill”. Great dexterity and skill in execution.
  • Konzertstück [German] An informal “concert piece”, usually in one movement, for solo instruments and orchestra.
  • con [Italian] “With”.