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 2483 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

  • scena [Italian] A term used to describe the stage, scene or act of an opera. Also, a term for a set of vocal movements in a theatrical production, usually including a recitative, arioso, and aria.
  • con slancio [Italian] With energy.
  • baton The stick used by the conductor to define the beat of the music. Also, a light metal rod used for keeping time, twirling and juggling in marching band performances.
  • con calore [Italian] With warmth.
  • pensoso [Italian] Thoughtful, pensive.
  • mazurka A lively Polish dance in 3/4 or 3/8 time with the accent usually on the second or third beat of the measure.
  • buffo [Italian] Comic, humorous.
  • geschwind [German] Swift, swiftly.
  • mestizia [Italian] Sadness.
  • eilig [German] Hurried, hasty, speedy.
  • rabbia [Italian] Rage, fury, anger.
  • moto perpetuo [Italian] Literally, “perpetual motion”. A term used to describe rapidly executed and persistently maintained figuration.
  • pas [French] “Not”.
  • quarter tone Half a semitone.
  • theme and variations A style of composition that first presents a basic theme and then develops and alters that theme in successive statements.