Multilingual Music Glossary

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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

  • fortissimo-piano [Italian] A dynamic marking (ffp) indicating that the marked note should be attacked very loudly, instantly diminishing to a much softer volume.
  • alterezza [Italian] Pride or haughtiness.
  • pianoforte [Italian] A dynamic marking (fp) directing the performer to attack the written note at the dynamic level of piano (soft) followed by an immediate increase in volume to forte (loud).
  • round Perpetual canon at the unison in which each voice enters in succession with the same melody.
  • placido [Italian] Calm, placid.
  • SATB An abbreviation used to denote the number of voice parts in a vocal composition. It implies that the composition has one soprano part, one alto part, one tenor part, and one bass part. Common variants of this are: SSATTB (Soprano in two-parts, Alto, Tenor in two-parts , and Bass), SSATB, SSA, TTBB, etc.
  • sereno [Italian] Serene, calm.
  • polonaise [French] Stately Polish processional dance in triple meter.
  • harmonic minor scale A minor scale where the seventh tone is raised by a semitone, both ascending and descending.
  • accompagnato [Italian] Accompanied.
  • heftig [German] Vehement, boisterous.
  • fixed form A form in which the poetic structure determines musical repetitions.
  • lamentevole [Italian] Plaintive, mournful.
  • intermedio [Italian] In the Renaissance, a musical entertainment between the acts of a play.
  • liturgy In those churches that use standard written forms of services, the ritual or service of public worship.