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

  • Anlaufen [German] To open, to increase in volume.
  • über [German] “Above”, “over”.
  • sostenuto [Italian] Sustained.
  • comp Jazz term used to describe the accompaniment backing up a soloist.
  • natural key A key whose signature contains no sharps or flats; basically, C major and A minor.
  • connecting note A note held in common by two chords.
  • serioso [Italian] Serious, grave.
  • diminuendo [Italian] A directive to smoothly decrease the volume.
  • bizzarro [Italian] Odd, whimsical, irregular.
  • mais [French] “But”.
  • binary form Two-part structure of music; usually each part is repeated.
  • quodlibet [Latin] A humorous composition that contains snatches of popular melodies and texts presented concurrently or consecutively.
  • countertenor A male voice of unusually high range, generally achieved through falsetto. The countertenor has the range of either the female alto or soprano.
  • binary measure A measure containing two beats.
  • comme ci-dessus [French] “As above”.