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

  • wind instrument Any instrument that produces sound by means of a column of air.
  • sentence Term applied to a complete, independent musical idea, usually consisting of two or four phrases, ending with a cadence.
  • mediant The third note of a diatonic scale.
  • lenteur [French] “Slowness”.
  • spiritual A style of music invented by Afro-American slaves. Spirituals are generally religious songs with elements of African rhythms, Biblical texts, and American accents. Usually the text is concerned with earthly tribulations and heavenly justice and reward.
  • melodic minor scale A minor scale where the sixth and seventh tones are raised by a semitone when the scale is ascending. When the scale is descending, the melodic minor scale is the same as the natural minor scale.
  • sheet music A generic term to mean any piece of paper with the notation of a composition printed on on it.
  • attacca [Italian] A musical directive for the performer to begin the next section of a composition immediately and without pause.
  • cantor [Latin] Solo singer or singing leader in Jewish and Christian liturgical music.
  • murky A style of keyboard playing in which the bass consists of quick alternating octaves rather than slower, longer notes.
  • mariachi [Spanish] Traditional Mexican ensemble popular throughout the country, consisting of trumpets, violins, guitar and bass guitar.
  • choral prelude Short baroque organ composition in which a traditional melody is embellished.
  • largamente [Italian] With a broad, full sound.
  • Nachahmung [German] Imitation.
  • con brio [Italian] With vivacity or spirit.