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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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

  • quasi [Italian] “Almost”.
  • irato [Italian] Irate, angry.
  • monody Term applied to Italian songs written to be performed by one voice with instrumental accompaniment dating from the first half of the 17th century.
  • quartal harmony Harmony based on the interval of the fourth as opposed to a third; used in twentieth century music.
  • galliard [French] Lively triple-meter French court dance.
  • countermelody A sequence of notes, perceived as a melody, written to be played simultaneously with a more prominent melody.
  • larghetto [Italian] A tempo not quite as slow as largo, usually around 60–66 BPM.
  • time signature A symbol placed at the left side of the staff indicating the meter of the composition.
  • Rococo [French] A term applied to French compositions of the 18th century, implying light, airy, graceful, and ornamented style, in response to the rigid, severe lines of the previous era.
  • Köchel Verzeichnis [German] The numbering system identifying compositions by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
  • augmentation Statement of a melody in longer note values, often twice as slow as the original.
  • virtuoso [Italian] Performer of extraordinary technical ability.
  • piccolo [Italian] Literally, “small”. A small flute that sounds an octave above the regular flute, and also an octave above its written music.
  • staccatissimo [Italian] A style of playing notes in a detached, separated, distinct manner that shortens the notated duration of the note in a more exaggerated way than normal staccato.
  • retransition In sonata-allegro form, the last part of the development which leads to the tonic of the main key and usually emphasizes it.