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

  • reduction A simplified arrangement of a composition.
  • Eingang [German] An introduction, preface or prelude.
  • diatonic Melody or harmony built from the seven tones of a major or minor scale.
  • mezzo forte [Italian] Moderately loud. Not quite so loud as forte.
  • flamenco [Spanish] A genre of dance and music characterized by its use of modes, its unusual rhythm patterns and its use of guitar accompaniment.
  • a cappella [Italian] Choral or vocal music performed without instrumental accompaniment.
  • volta [Italian] “Time”, as in “first time” (prima volta) or “second time” (seconda volta).
  • lacrimoso [Italian] Tearful.
  • dur [French] Literally, “hard”. With a harsh or ungraceful tone.
  • lip plate The part of a flute which contacts the player's lower lip, allowing precise positioning and direction of the air stream.
  • minimalist music Contemporary musical style featuring the repetition of short melodic, rhythmic and harmonic patterns with little variation.
  • un peu [French] A little.
  • rondeau [French] A Medieval and early Renaissance musical form, based on a popular contemporary poetic form. The rondeau form calls for a rigid pattern of repetition of verse and refrain, following the evolving rhyme-scheme of the poetic form.
  • xylophone A percussion instrument consisting of a row of chromatically tuned wooden bars, arranged in the manner of a piano keyboard.
  • Klang [German] Sound, tune, ringing, sonority.