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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Some random terms

  • chromatic scale A scale consisting of all 12 semitones.
  • catch A humorous composition for three or four voices common in England during the 16th century. The parts are written so that each singer catches up to the other parts, giving the words different meanings than if each line was sung alone, usually to a humorous or bawdy effect.
  • violento [Italian] Violent, vehement.
  • ancora [Italian] “Still”, as in “still more slowly”.
  • bepop Complex jazz style developed in the 1940s.
  • quieto [Italian] Calm, serene.
  • quadruplum [Latin] Polyphony having four voices. Also, the highest of these voices.
  • obbligato [Italian] Literally, “obligatory”. Important part of a music that that should not be omitted.
  • leggiero [Italian] Light, delicate.
  • demi [French] “Half”.
  • glee club Originally, a club designed for the singing of glees, originating in 1787 and dissolved in 1857. In modern usage, a glee club is a club usually, but not necessarily, exclusive to males, organized for the singing of vocal compositions.
  • come prima [Italian] “As before”. A directive to return to a previous tempo or to play a particular passage in the manner of a previous passage.
  • andantino [Italian] A moderate tempo marking, which can be faster or slower than andante.
  • modal Having to do with modes; this term is applied most particularly to music that is based upon the Gregorian modes, rather than to music based upon the major, minor, or any other scale.
  • simile [Italian] “Similar”. Often used to designate the continuation of the use of an articulation without repeating the articulation symbol.