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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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

  • affabilmente [Italian] Easily, gently and agreeably.
  • clef In musical notation, a symbol at the beginning of a staff that determines the pitches of the lines and spaces. The most common clefs are treble, for indicating pitches mostly above middle C, and bass, for indicating pitches mostly below middle C.
  • triplet Three notes of equal length that are to be performed in the duration of two notes of equal length.
  • pienezza [Italian] “Fullness”.
  • rhythm The subdivision of time into a defined pattern.
  • metrical modulation The shifting from one meter to another in the middle of a composition.
  • anonymous A person whose name is unknown.
  • affannato [Italian] Anguished.
  • pantonality Term used to describe music that is not in one tonality or key, but shifts freely among many or all keys.
  • fortissimo-piano [Italian] A dynamic marking (ffp) indicating that the marked note should be attacked very loudly, instantly diminishing to a much softer volume.
  • rest A symbol standing for a measured break in the sound with a defined duration.
  • 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.
  • madrigal choir Small vocal ensemble that specializes in a cappella secular works.
  • polychord The simultaneous use of two or more simple chords (such as triads), a technique used in 20th century compositions.
  • rasch [German] Rapid, swift.