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

  • larigot [French] A shepherd's flute or pipe.
  • gallant style A clear, elegant, uncomplicated style that arose in contrast to the more complex style of Baroque counterpoint.
  • squillante [Italian] Ringing.
  • cavatina [Italian] Originally, a short song of simple character, without a second strain or any repetition of the air. It is now frequently applied to a simple melodious air, as distinguished from a brilliant aria or recitative, and often forms part of a large movement or scena in oratorio or opera.
  • comodetto [Italian] Diminutive form of comodo.
  • pavane [French] Stately Renaissance court dance in duple meter.
  • parallel motion In part writing, parallel motion occurs when two voices move keeping exactly the same interval between them.
  • serialism A method of composition in which various musical elements such as pitch, rhythm, dynamics, and tone color may be put in order according to a fixed series.
  • liturgy In those churches that use standard written forms of services, the ritual or service of public worship.
  • sixth An interval of six diatonic degrees, counting the first and last degree.
  • codetta [Italian] Literally, “little tail”. A passage similar to a coda, but on a smaller scale, concluding a section of a work instead of the work as a whole.
  • jota [Spanish] A type of Spanish dance song characterized by a quick triple meter and guitar and castanet accompaniment.
  • estinto [Italian] Literally, “extinguished”. A directive to perform as soft as possible.
  • grosso [Italian] Large, great, grand.
  • couplet [French] A term used in the 1600s and 1700s for the intermediate sections of a rondeau.