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

  • sight-singing The practice of singing a composition at sight, without previous preparation.
  • quintet A piece for five singers or instrumentalists. Also, a group of such musicians.
  • shape note Music notation system originating in nineteenth century American church music in which the shape of the note heads determines the pitch; created to aid music reading.
  • encore [French] “Again”.
  • choral prelude Short baroque organ composition in which a traditional melody is embellished.
  • flageolet [French] A simple recorder with four finger holes, popular in the 17th century in England.
  • giocoso [Italian] Jolly, merry, playful.
  • strathspey A lively Scottish dance in 4/4 time related to the reel. A characteristic of this dance is the peculiar rhythmic pattern of a dotted eighth note followed by a sixteenth, known as the Scotch snap.
  • lentement [French] Slowly.
  • concertante [Italian] A part that calls for some element of solo performance, as in a classical concerto.
  • spagnoletta [Italian] An Italian dance of the late 16th century.
  • technique The mechanical aspect of performing a composition.
  • corps [French] Literally, “body”. May indicate the body of an instrument or a company of performers.
  • aeolian A mode used in Gregorian chant based upon the sixth tone of the major scale. In the key of C, the aeolian mode would be based on A, and would include A, B, C, D, E, F, G, A.
  • bossa nova [Portuguese] Brazilian dance related to the samba, popular in the 1950s and 1960s.