Multilingual Music Glossary

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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

  • polonaise [French] Stately Polish processional dance in triple meter.
  • fois [French] “Time”, as in “first time” (première fois) or “second time” (deuxieme fois).
  • comme ci-dessus [French] “As above”.
  • acoustical instrument Any musical instrument not relying on external power for operation.
  • tardo [Italian] Slow.
  • retransition In sonata-allegro form, the last part of the development which leads to the tonic of the main key and usually emphasizes it.
  • double sharp An accidental sign (‛x’) that raises a note by two semitones.
  • comodetto [Italian] Diminutive form of comodo.
  • trill Ornament consisting of the rapid alternation between one tone and the next above it.
  • rallentando [Italian] Slowing down.
  • backfall A descending appoggiatura.
  • tristamente [Italian] Sadly.
  • malinconico [Italian] Melancholic.
  • estampie [French] A type of early instrumental music of the 13th and 14th centuries, consisting of independent sections strung together.
  • cut off An arm and hand motion by a conductor that indicates to an ensemble that they stop performing. This is normally done at the end of a composition, at the end of a movement or section, or on a fermata.