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

  • divertissment [French] A light, entertaining dance and music combination related to the divertimento.
  • sonata da chiesa [Italian] A baroque instrumental work intended for performance in a church, generally in four movements, arranged slow, fast, slow, fast.
  • isorhythmic motet Medieval and early Renaissance motet based on a repeating rhythmic pattern throughout one or more voices.
  • vibrato [Italian] Small fluctuation of pitch and/or volume, used to add expression and vocal-like qualities to instrumental music.
  • vivace [Italian] A fast tempo marking, usually around 140 BPM.
  • estinto [Italian] Literally, “extinguished”. A directive to perform as soft as possible.
  • gebrochen [German] “Broken”.
  • sextuple meter Compound metrical pattern that consists of six beats to every measure.
  • elegante [Italian] Elegant, graceful.
  • mezzo piano [Italian] Moderately soft. Not quite so soft as piano.
  • program music Music intended to evoke extra-musical ideas, images in the mind of the listener by musically representing a scene, image or mood. By contrast, absolute music stands for itself and is intended to be appreciated without any particular reference to the outside world.
  • Minnesinger [German] A poet or musician of the Minnesang tradition in Germany, active during the 12th through the 15th centuries.
  • courante [French] A family of triple meter dances from the late Renaissance and the Baroque era.
  • off-beat A rhythm that emphasizes the weak beats of a bar.
  • canzona [Italian] A 16th-century multipart vocal setting of a literary canzone, or a 16th- and 17th-century instrumental composition.