Multilingual Music Glossary
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
- polyharmony Two or more streams of harmony played against each other; common in twentieth century music.
- mancando
![[Italian]](https://www.flutetunes.com/img/languages/it.png "Italian")
A directive for the volume to grow quieter and die away. - calmo Calm.
- Zungenstoss
![[German]](https://www.flutetunes.com/img/languages/de.png "German")
Tongue thrust. - sixteenth note A note having the time duration of one sixteenth of a whole note.
- piccolo Literally, “small”. A small flute that sounds an octave above the regular flute, and also an octave above its written music.
- mambo
![[Spanish]](https://www.flutetunes.com/img/languages/es.png "Spanish")
Dance of Afro-Cuban origin with a characteristic quadruple-meter rhythmic pattern. - doppio “Double”.
- pomposo Pompous, stately, or ceremonious.
- non troppo Not too much.
- springer An ornament consisting of the main tone followed by the tone above it followed by the tone above that, then returning to the original main tone.
- mixolydian The Gregorian mode based upon the fifth tone of the scale. This mode, based on G, includes all the tones of the C major scale.
- legato Literally, “tied together”. A directive to perform a certain passage in a smooth, connected style. It is usually indicated by a slur over the affected notes.
- appassionato Passionate, with intense emotion or feeling.
- ruhig Calm, peaceful.