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

  • tablature Any form of musical notation using symbols or letters rather than notes on the staff to describe pitches.
  • courante [French] A family of triple meter dances from the late Renaissance and the Baroque era.
  • third An interval of three diatonic degrees, counting the first and last degree.
  • stanchezza [Italian] Weariness.
  • chorale Baroque congregational hymn of the German Lutheran church, usually written for four voice harmony.
  • grave [Italian] The slowest tempo in music, usually slower than 40 BPM.
  • 15mb [Italian] A directive to perform two octaves lower than written.
  • fugato [Italian] In the style of a fugue.
  • dissonance Any interval or chord that sounds impure, harsh, or unstable.
  • musico [Italian] Term applied to any musician in the 17th and 18th centuries.
  • virtuoso [Italian] Performer of extraordinary technical ability.
  • polonaise [French] Stately Polish processional dance in triple meter.
  • détaché [French] Not slurred.
  • hautbois [French] Oboe.
  • bore The diameter of the tube of a woodwind or brass instrument. The shape of the bore in part dictates the timbre or tone color of the instrument.