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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If you are looking for a symbol, check out our Guide to Musical Symbols.

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

  • Dixieland An early style of jazz originating in the early 20th century in New Orleans with a simple, cheerful character.
  • strisciando [Italian] A directive to perform with a slur, a smooth slide, or a glide from one note to another.
  • florid Rich, embellished.
  • Nachahmung [German] Imitation.
  • encore [French] “Again”.
  • fresco [Italian] “Fresh”, vigorous, lively.
  • galop [French] A lively ballroom dance, generally in 2/4 time.
  • portamento [Italian] Literally, “carrying”. In singing or playing continuous-pitch instruments, the technique of gliding from one note to another without actually defining the intermediate notes: a smooth sliding between two pitches.
  • 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.
  • cotillion [French] A popular dance in the French Courts in the 18th and 19th century, that preceded the Quadrille style of dancing.
  • hairpin The symbol, made up of two joined lines, used to indicate a crescendo or a decrescendo.
  • nobile [Italian] “Noble“, grand, impressive.
  • Übung [German] Exercise.
  • key On a woodwind instrument, the keys are the metal disks that close or open soundholes by means of levers operated by the performer's fingers.
  • corps [French] Literally, “body”. May indicate the body of an instrument or a company of performers.