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

  • affabilità [Italian] Literally, “affability”. A directive to perform with ease and elegance, in a pleasing and agreeable manner.
  • tone A sound of definite pitch and duration, as distinct from noise. Tone is a primary building material of music.
  • castrato Male singer who was castrated during boyhood to preserve the soprano or alto vocal register, prominent in seventeenth and early eighteenth century opera.
  • Schottische [German] A German round dance in duple time.
  • part song A vocal composition for two or more voices, usually unaccompanied.
  • semitone A minor second; the smallest interval in the system of Western music.
  • largamente [Italian] With a broad, full sound.
  • modo [Italian] Way, manner.
  • volta subito [Italian] A directive to turn the page quickly.
  • answer Second entry of the subject in a fugue, usually pitched a fourth below or a fifth above the original subject. If the theme is altered slightly in the answer, then it is said to be a tonal answer, if it is entirely unaltered, it is said to be a real answer.
  • 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.
  • glee An English part song for three or more voices originating in the 17th century.
  • double exposition In a concerto, a twofold statement of the theme, once by the orchestra and once by the soloist.
  • rant A country dance of Scotland and Northern England in duple meter and binary form.
  • upbeat The last beat of any measure, usually a weak beat.