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

  • mezzo-soprano [Italian] The female voice between soprano and contralto.
  • fauxbourdon [French] A technique of musical harmonization used in the late Middle Ages and early Renaissance. It consists of the cantus firmus and two other parts a sixth and a perfect fourth below.
  • Konzertstück [German] An informal “concert piece”, usually in one movement, for solo instruments and orchestra.
  • disco Commercial dance music popular in the 1970s, characterized by strong percussion in a quadruple meter.
  • con anima [Italian] “With soul”, with feeling.
  • calmando [Italian] Getting calm or quiet.
  • volando [Italian] Flying.
  • sequence Restatement of an idea or motive at a different pitch level.
  • oratorio [Italian] Large-scale dramatic genre originating in the Baroque, based on a text of religious or serious character, performed by solo voices, chorus and orchestra; similar to opera but without scenery, costumes or action.
  • Cecilia [Italian] Saint honored as the patroness of music.
  • chromaticism Use of tones extraneous to a diatonic scale (major or minor).
  • principal A section leader in a large ensemble (band or orchestra) also called first chair, except for the first violins, where the leader is termed the concertmaster.
  • Tzigane [French] Term used for a composition having gypsy influences or flavor.
  • risoluto [Italian] Bold, resolute.
  • tranquillo [Italian] Calm, quiet.