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

  • legato [Italian] Literally, “tied together”. A directive to perform a certain passage in a smooth, connected style. It is usually indicated by a slur over the affected notes.
  • simple meter A meter in which the main beats are subdivided into twos, such as 2/4 or 3/4.
  • Manualiter [German] Organ compositions that are to be performed on the manual alone, i.e. without the pedals.
  • Burgundian chanson Fifteenth century French composition, usually for three voices, some or all of which may be played by instruments.
  • traditional music Music that is learned by oral transmission and is easily sung or played by most people.
  • Feldmusik [German] Music performed outdoors on wind instruments.
  • double exposition In a concerto, a twofold statement of the theme, once by the orchestra and once by the soloist.
  • expression The blend of feeling and intellect brought to a performance by the performer.
  • flute A woodwind instrument that is held horizontally and sounded by blowing across the mouthpiece of the instrument.
  • program symphony A multi-movement composition with extra-musical content that directs the attention of the listener to a literary or pictorial association.
  • invention Mostly in reference to baroque music, a short, contrapuntal composition, usually implying an originality of idea.
  • serioso [Italian] Serious, grave.
  • doppio [Italian] “Double”.
  • geschwind [German] Swift, swiftly.
  • ictus [Latin] The instant when a beat occurs.