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

  • chromatic scale A scale consisting of all 12 semitones.
  • sin' al fine [Italian] Literally, “to the end”. Usually attached to another directive, implying that whatever the other directive stated should be carried out to the end of the composition.
  • fortissimo [Italian] Very loud, louder than forte.
  • malinconico [Italian] Melancholic.
  • canción [Spanish] A popular genre of Latin American music, particularly in Cuba, where many of the compositions originate.
  • fixed form A form in which the poetic structure determines musical repetitions.
  • part song A vocal composition for two or more voices, usually unaccompanied.
  • recital A performance given by a soloist or a small ensemble.
  • Handel-Werke-Verzeichnis [German] The numbering system identifying compositions by George Frederic Handel.
  • Zungenstoss [German] Tongue thrust.
  • lointain [French] “Distant”, “faraway”.
  • staff Series of five horizontal lines upon and between which the musical notes are written, thus indicating, in connection with a clef, their pitch.
  • sanft [German] Soft, mild, smooth.
  • maestoso [Italian] Majestic.
  • assai [Italian] Much, very much.