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

  • Ländler [German] A folk dance in 3/4 time which was popular in Austria, south Germany and German Switzerland at the end of the 18th century.
  • xylophone A percussion instrument consisting of a row of chromatically tuned wooden bars, arranged in the manner of a piano keyboard.
  • Leichen-musik [German] Funeral music.
  • aeolian A mode used in Gregorian chant based upon the sixth tone of the major scale. In the key of C, the aeolian mode would be based on A, and would include A, B, C, D, E, F, G, A.
  • fertig [German] Dexterous, nimble, quick.
  • giusto [Italian] A directive to perform in an equal, steady, exact tempo.
  • doppio [Italian] “Double”.
  • fanfare A short, lively, loud, militaristic composition, usually composed for brass instruments and percussions.
  • perdendo [Italian] Losing volume.
  • transposing instrument Those instruments which are notated in one key on paper, yet sound another key when they are performed.
  • ohne [German] “Without”.
  • mosso [Italian] Moved, agitated.
  • romance [French] Originally a ballad; in the Romantic era, a lyric instrumental work.
  • choro [Portuguese] Literally, “cry”, or “lament”. Brazilian popular music instrumental style, born in 19th-century Rio de Janeiro. In spite of the name, the style has often a fast and happy rhythm, characterized by the improvisations of the musician.
  • soli [Italian] “Alone” (plural form). A directive to perform with an entire section of an ensemble.