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

  • foxtrot Ballroom dance popular in the 19th century.
  • dolcissimo [Italian] Very sweet, very soft.
  • grand staff A combination of two staves with a brace, usually used for piano music.
  • technique The mechanical aspect of performing a composition.
  • sehr [German] “Very”, “much”.
  • radical bass An bass line produced by linking the fundamentals of the chords in a progression.
  • Kammerton [German] Literally, “Chamber pitch”. The pitch system used for instruments in Germany during the baroque period. In this system, the A above middle C was probably about 410–425 Hz.
  • split E mechanism On a flute, a system whereby the second G key (positioned below the G♯ key) is closed when the right middle-finger key is depressed, enabling a clearer third octave E; standard on most flutes, but omitted from many intermediate- and professional-grade flutes, as it can reduce the tonal quality of 3rd octave F♯.
  • chest voice The lowest register of the voice.
  • one hundred and twenty-eighth note A note having the time duration of one hundred twenty-eighth of the time duration of a whole note.
  • Raabe numbers A numbering system identifying compositions by Franz Liszt.
  • quartal harmony Harmony based on the interval of the fourth as opposed to a third; used in twentieth century music.
  • Kirkpatrick numbers The numbering system identifying compositions by Domenico Scarlatti.
  • sottovoce [Italian] Almost whispering.
  • aria [Italian] Lyric song for solo voice with orchestral accompaniment, generally expressing intense emotion; found in opera, cantata, and oratorio.