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

  • quodlibet [Latin] A humorous composition that contains snatches of popular melodies and texts presented concurrently or consecutively.
  • offset G On a flute, a G key which is extended to the side of the other two left-hand finger keys (along with the G♯ key), thus requiring less bending of the wrist, rendering it easier to reach and cover effectively, and less uncomfortable and fatiguing to play.
  • improvisation Creation of a musical composition while it is being performed.
  • non-harmonic note In part writing, a note that is dissonant with other notes in the same chord.
  • Bach-Werke-Verzeichnis [German] The numbering system identifying compositions by Johann Sebastian Bach.
  • innigster [German] “Sincere”.
  • boogie-woogie A style of piano-based blues that became very popular in the late 1930s and early 1940s, but originated much earlier, and was extended from piano, to three pianos at once, guitar, big band, and country and western music, and even gospel. Whilst the blues traditionally depicts a variety of emotions, boogie-woogie is mainly associated with dancing.
  • echo A repetition or mimicking of a certain passage, usually with less force and volume than the original statement.
  • dolcissimo [Italian] Very sweet, very soft.
  • sopra [Italian] “Above”.
  • sight-singing The practice of singing a composition at sight, without previous preparation.
  • rinforzando [Italian] Literally, “reinforcing”. Dynamic marking indicating that several notes, or a short phrase, are to be emphasized.
  • Zwischenspiel [German] An interlude played between the verses of a hymn.
  • tonality The organization of a composition around a tonic.
  • calmato [Italian] Calm.