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

  • world music A 20th century term used by the music recording industry to categorize non-American music that does not fit into any of the established genres. This music tends to be folk music from outside of the United States of America.
  • gentile [Italian] Gentle, kind.
  • theme The musical basis upon which a composition is built. Usually a theme consists of a recognizable melody or a characteristic rhythmic pattern.
  • maestoso [Italian] Majestic.
  • hymn Song in praise of God; often involves congregational participation.
  • echo A repetition or mimicking of a certain passage, usually with less force and volume than the original statement.
  • villanelle [French] A French term used in the 16th century for pastoral poems or songs. The term was later revived, and applied to compositions by later composers.
  • vocal range The range of notes that a singing voice can encompass.
  • senza [Italian] “Without”.
  • double [French] During the Baroque period, a repetition or variation of an air or a dance that adds extra notes and/or ornaments.
  • Bach-Werke-Verzeichnis [German] The numbering system identifying compositions by Johann Sebastian Bach.
  • con forza [Italian] “With force”, vigorously.
  • sonoro [Italian] Resounding.
  • doucement [French] Softly.
  • rant A country dance of Scotland and Northern England in duple meter and binary form.