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

  • frequency Rate of vibration of a string or column of air, which determines pitch. Usually measured in Hertz (Hz).
  • expression The blend of feeling and intellect brought to a performance by the performer.
  • fiddle A name for the violin, especially when used to perform folk music.
  • polyharmony Two or more streams of harmony played against each other; common in twentieth century music.
  • transverse flute The regular orchestral flute, as distinct from the recorder.
  • subito [Italian] At once, immediately.
  • soave [Italian] Soft, sweet, gentle.
  • technique The mechanical aspect of performing a composition.
  • recitativo secco [Italian] Recitative accompanied only by continuo.
  • vif [French] A tempo directive meaning “lively”.
  • Schleppend [German] Dragging.
  • castrato Male singer who was castrated during boyhood to preserve the soprano or alto vocal register, prominent in seventeenth and early eighteenth century opera.
  • ionian In the system of modes, the ionian mode is the one based on C; therefore, it is the modern major scale.
  • partita [Italian] In the 18th and 19th century, a multi-movement composition consisting of dances and non-dance movements or entirely of non-dance movements.
  • galante [Italian] Gallant, courtly, elegant.