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

  • piano [Italian] Softly, quietly.
  • con tenerezza [Italian] “With tenderness”.
  • fandango [Spanish] A lively folk and flamenco couple-dance, usually in triple meter, traditionally accompanied by guitars and castanets or hand-clapping.
  • wind ensemble An instrumental ensemble consisting of woodwind, brass and percussion instruments.
  • tristezza [Italian] Sadness.
  • bagatelle [French] A short piece of music, typically for the piano, and usually of a light, mellow character. The term literally means a “trifle”, as a reference to the innocent character of the piece.
  • comodetto [Italian] Diminutive form of comodo.
  • savart [French] A unit of measurement for musical intervals, corresponding to about 3.986 cents.
  • adagio [Italian] A slow tempo marking, usually around 66–76 BPM.
  • species counterpoint A technique of strict counterpoint involving the addition of voices to a melody advancing from simple to more complex harmonies.
  • mestizia [Italian] Sadness.
  • leggiero [Italian] Light, delicate.
  • timoroso [Italian] Timorous, fearful; with hesitation.
  • rondeau [French] A Medieval and early Renaissance musical form, based on a popular contemporary poetic form. The rondeau form calls for a rigid pattern of repetition of verse and refrain, following the evolving rhyme-scheme of the poetic form.
  • symphonie concertante [French] A musical genre of the late 18th and early 19th centuries that resembles a concerto for two to four solo instruments. It is a composition in two or three movements of a lighthearted character, usually in a major key. The genre features a few solo instruments and orchestra.