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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Some random terms

  • cadenza [Italian] An improvised or written-out ornamental passage played or sung by a soloist or soloists, usually in a free rhythmic style, and often allowing for virtuosic display.
  • melisma (Plural: melismata.) A group of notes sung melodically to a single syllable.
  • accablé [French] Overwhelmed.
  • quasi [Italian] “Almost”.
  • repercussion The frequent repetition of the same sound. Also, the re-entrance of the subject and answer in a fugue following other material.
  • ensemble [French] A group of musicians that perform as a unit.
  • Köchel Verzeichnis [German] The numbering system identifying compositions by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
  • legatissimo [Italian] Very legato, extremely smooth and connected.
  • answer Second entry of the subject in a fugue, usually pitched a fourth below or a fifth above the original subject. If the theme is altered slightly in the answer, then it is said to be a tonal answer, if it is entirely unaltered, it is said to be a real answer.
  • echo A repetition or mimicking of a certain passage, usually with less force and volume than the original statement.
  • vocal range The range of notes that a singing voice can encompass.
  • sospirando [Italian] Sighing.
  • calmo [Italian] Calm.
  • register A division of the range of an instrument or singing voice. Usually registers are defined by a change in the quality of the sound between a lower range and a higher range.
  • sentence Term applied to a complete, independent musical idea, usually consisting of two or four phrases, ending with a cadence.