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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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

  • schnell [German] Fast.
  • non-harmonic note In part writing, a note that is dissonant with other notes in the same chord.
  • alla breve [Italian] A time marking indicating a quick duple meter, with the half note rather than the quarter note getting the beat (2/2 rather than 4/4).
  • réjouissance [French] A jubilant composition used to conclude some Baroque orchestral suites.
  • fanfare A short, lively, loud, militaristic composition, usually composed for brass instruments and percussions.
  • giubilo [Italian] Rejoicing, jubilation.
  • estampie [French] A type of early instrumental music of the 13th and 14th centuries, consisting of independent sections strung together.
  • con brio [Italian] With vivacity or spirit.
  • transverse flute The regular orchestral flute, as distinct from the recorder.
  • pivot [French] A chord that is placed in a transition between two keys, serving a different function in each key and providing smooth movement between them.
  • voce piena [Italian] “Full voice”.
  • brioso [Italian] Vivacious, spirited, lively.
  • terraced dynamics Expressive style typical of some early music in which volume levels shift abruptly from soft to loud and back without gradual crescendos and decrescendos.
  • villancico [Spanish] A 15th and 16th century form of Spanish poetry that was often set to music.
  • traditional music Music that is learned by oral transmission and is easily sung or played by most people.