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

  • vago [Italian] Vague, indefinite.
  • varsovienne [French] A French dance in 3/4 time with a moderate tempo.
  • Hertz [German] The basic unit of measurement of frequency, definable as one cycle per second. Usually abbreviated “Hz”.
  • leading note The major seventh of a scale, so called because it lies a semitone below the tonic and “leads” towards it.
  • texture The interweaving of melodic (horizontal) and harmonic (vertical) elements in the musical fabric. Texture is generally described as monophonic (single line), heterophonic (elaboration on a single line), homophonic (single line with accompaniment), or polyphonic (many voiced).
  • romance [French] Originally a ballad; in the Romantic era, a lyric instrumental work.
  • libero [Italian] Literally, “free”. A directive to perform in a free, unrestrained style.
  • overtone A constituent frequency of a sound other than the fundamental frequency.
  • outer voices The highest and the lowest voices in a polyphonic composition.
  • time signature A symbol placed at the left side of the staff indicating the meter of the composition.
  • autograph A manuscript in the composer's own hand.
  • fortississimo [Italian] Extremely loud, louder than fortissimo.
  • harmony Tones sounding simultaneously.
  • restez [French] A directive to remain on a note.
  • monophony Music that is written for only one voice or part.