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

  • étude [French] Study piece that focuses on a particular technical problem.
  • unter [German] “Below”, “under”.
  • raddolcendo [Italian] Growing sweeter and calmer.
  • autograph A manuscript in the composer's own hand.
  • septet A piece for seven singers or instrumentalists. Also, a group of such musicians.
  • basso continuo [Italian] Literally, “continuous bass”. A bass part that runs continuously throughout a work, characteristic of Baroque music.
  • double flat An accidental sign consisting of two flat symbols, that lowers a note by two semitones.
  • perdendo [Italian] Losing volume.
  • tie A curved line drawn over or under the heads of two notes of the same pitch indicating that they should be played as a single note.
  • acoustical instrument Any musical instrument not relying on external power for operation.
  • cotillion [French] A popular dance in the French Courts in the 18th and 19th century, that preceded the Quadrille style of dancing.
  • lebhaft [German] Lively.
  • sprezzatura [Italian] A term used in 17th century Italy describing a free style of performing compositions that ignored strict tempo and rhythm, embracing freedom of tempo and expressiveness.
  • quartal harmony Harmony based on the interval of the fourth as opposed to a third; used in twentieth century music.
  • cut off An arm and hand motion by a conductor that indicates to an ensemble that they stop performing. This is normally done at the end of a composition, at the end of a movement or section, or on a fermata.