Multilingual Music Glossary

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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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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

  • string quartet An ensemble consisting of two violins, viola, and cello, or a work composed for such an ensemble.
  • ictus [Latin] The instant when a beat occurs.
  • dampen A directive to muffle, deaden or restrain the tone of an instrument.
  • bravura [Italian] Literally, “skill”. Great dexterity and skill in execution.
  • orchestra An instrumental ensemble, usually fairly large, with string, brass, woodwind sections, and possibly a percussion section as well.
  • unison Interval between two notes of the same pitch; the simultaneous playing of the same note.
  • moto [Italian] Motion, movement.
  • timbre [French] The quality of a sound; that component of a tone that causes different instruments (for example a flute and a violin) to sound different from each other while they are both playing the same note.
  • mambo [Spanish] Dance of Afro-Cuban origin with a characteristic quadruple-meter rhythmic pattern.
  • fiero [Italian] Proud, haughty, noble.
  • fixed form A form in which the poetic structure determines musical repetitions.
  • passepied [French] A baroque dance in triple meter.
  • bas [French] Low in pitch.
  • fingering The methodical use of fingers in the playing of instruments.
  • accompagnato [Italian] Accompanied.