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

  • all'ottava [Italian] Literally, “at the octave”. Directive to perform an indicated passage of a composition one octave higher than notated. Typically, this is indicated by an “8va” or “8” over the passage followed by a dotted line over the top of all the notes to be transposed.
  • Ryom Verzeichnis [German] A numbering system identifying compositions by Antonio Vivaldi.
  • lyrics The words of a song.
  • moins [French] “Less”.
  • ritardando [Italian] Gradually delaying the tempo.
  • sanft [German] Soft, mild, smooth.
  • jig A vigorous dance originating in the British Isles in the 15th century or earlier, usually in compound meter.
  • triplet Three notes of equal length that are to be performed in the duration of two notes of equal length.
  • mordent An ornament indicating that a note is to be played in a single rapid alternation with the note above or below.
  • progressive rock A subgenre of rock that reached its peak in the early 1970s and attempted to blend the visceral style of rock music with outside influences: classical, jazz, folk, and world musics, for example.
  • doucement [French] Softly.
  • fandango [Spanish] A lively folk and flamenco couple-dance, usually in triple meter, traditionally accompanied by guitars and castanets or hand-clapping.
  • root position The position of a chord when the base pitch of the chord is in the lowest voice.
  • Handel-Werke-Verzeichnis [German] The numbering system identifying compositions by George Frederic Handel.
  • melodrama A spoken dialogue that is accompanied by music.