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

  • flute A woodwind instrument that is held horizontally and sounded by blowing across the mouthpiece of the instrument.
  • armonioso [Italian] Harmonious, pleasant-sounding.
  • technique The mechanical aspect of performing a composition.
  • non-imitative counterpoint A musical texture in which independent voices of different character compete for attention.
  • corps [French] Literally, “body”. May indicate the body of an instrument or a company of performers.
  • heftig [German] Vehement, boisterous.
  • cadence A sequence of chords that terminates a musical phrase or section.
  • adagio [Italian] A slow tempo marking, usually around 66–76 BPM.
  • neoclassical Term applied to 20th century composers who use the forms and thematic processes of the classical era.
  • grosso [Italian] Large, great, grand.
  • choir A group of singers who perform together, usually in parts, with several on each part.
  • non troppo [Italian] Not too much.
  • aeolian A mode used in Gregorian chant based upon the sixth tone of the major scale. In the key of C, the aeolian mode would be based on A, and would include A, B, C, D, E, F, G, A.
  • staff Series of five horizontal lines upon and between which the musical notes are written, thus indicating, in connection with a clef, their pitch.
  • lebhaft [German] Lively.