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

  • doppel [German] “Double”.
  • imitation Compositional technique in which a melodic idea is presented in one voice (or part), then restated in another while the first voice continues with new material.
  • vivacissimamente [Italian] A directive to perform in a very lively or brisk manner.
  • expression The blend of feeling and intellect brought to a performance by the performer.
  • whole note The note with the longest duration in currently used Western music notation.
  • patetico [Italian] “Pathetic”, with great emotion.
  • largo [Italian] A slow and solemn tempo marking, usually around 40–60 BPM.
  • ancora [Italian] “Still”, as in “still more slowly”.
  • Kantorei [German] The musicians of a Protestant German court.
  • countermelody A sequence of notes, perceived as a melody, written to be played simultaneously with a more prominent melody.
  • calma [Italian] Calm.
  • secco [Italian] Literally, “dry”. A directive to perform in an unornamented, cold manner. It usually implies that the notes should be of short duration.
  • festivo [Italian] Merry, festive.
  • neoromantic A compositional style of the 20th century embodying the techniques and characteristics of the romantic period.
  • canticle A sacred hymn or song.