Multilingual Music Glossary

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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

  • lullaby A cradle song. A song sung to a child to soothe him to sleep or a gentle, quiet song.
  • bergamasca [Italian] A kind of Renaissance clumsy rustic dance.
  • divisi [Italian] Literally, “divided”. A directive in ensemble music that instructs one section to divide into two or more separate sections, each playing a separate part. Often these separate parts are written on the same staff.
  • finale [Italian] The last movement in a composition of several movements.
  • lauda [Latin] Laud, hymn of praise.
  • cupo [Italian] Dark, obscure.
  • second The interval between two neighbouring tones of a scale. Since a diatonic scale consists of alternating semitones and whole tones, the size of a second depends on the scale degrees in question.
  • Longo numbers A numbering system identifying keyboard sonatas by Domenico Scarlatti.
  • double [French] During the Baroque period, a repetition or variation of an air or a dance that adds extra notes and/or ornaments.
  • malinconico [Italian] Melancholic.
  • Zungenstoss [German] Tongue thrust.
  • bestimmt [German] With decision.
  • lebhaft [German] Lively.
  • glee club Originally, a club designed for the singing of glees, originating in 1787 and dissolved in 1857. In modern usage, a glee club is a club usually, but not necessarily, exclusive to males, organized for the singing of vocal compositions.
  • rapidamente [Italian] Rapidly.