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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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

  • giubilo [Italian] Rejoicing, jubilation.
  • rondeau [French] A Medieval and early Renaissance musical form, based on a popular contemporary poetic form. The rondeau form calls for a rigid pattern of repetition of verse and refrain, following the evolving rhyme-scheme of the poetic form.
  • canzone [Italian] Literally, “song”. An Italian or Provençal song or ballad. It is also used to describe a type of lyric which resembles a madrigal. Sometimes a composition which is simple and songlike is designated as a canzone, especially if it is by a non-Italian.
  • phrasing The clear rendering in musical performance of the phrases of a melody.
  • rest A symbol standing for a measured break in the sound with a defined duration.
  • Biamonti Catalog [Italian] A chronological catalog of Ludwig van Beethoven's compositions, compiled by Giovanni Biamonti.
  • Leben [German] Life, vivacity.
  • innocentemente Innocently.
  • close harmony Harmony written so that the parts are as close together as possible, usually with the upper voices very tight together, and the bass somewhat more distantly spaced.
  • K Either Köchel or Kirkpatrick.
  • moto [Italian] Motion, movement.
  • backbeat A style of rhythmic accentuation that puts accents on even beats. In common time this means having accents on beats 2 and 4.
  • tango [Spanish] A dance in 2/4 time from Argentina.
  • mordent An ornament indicating that a note is to be played in a single rapid alternation with the note above or below.
  • transposition Shifting a melody up or down in pitch, while keeping the same relative pitches.