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

  • mainstream Music which is currently popular and in demand.
  • con fuoco [Italian] Literally, “with fire”. A directive to play with vehement energy or fervid emotion.
  • diminution A Renaissance and Baroque ornamentation which consists of the restatement of a melody in which the note values are shortened, usually by half.
  • terraced dynamics Expressive style typical of some early music in which volume levels shift abruptly from soft to loud and back without gradual crescendos and decrescendos.
  • ossia [Italian] An alternative version of a music, usually only a few measures long and marked as an added staff.
  • tarantella [Italian] A fast Italian dance in 6/8 time, characterized by alternations between major and minor tonalities and a quickening of tempo throughout the composition.
  • volume Degree of loudness or softness of a sound.
  • elegy A funeral song; a mournful or plaintive composition.
  • tailgate A slang term for a trombone Glissando in Dixieland jazz.
  • ruggiero [Italian] A musical scheme which is at times harmonic and at times melodic. It is seen in 16th and 17th century music, for both vocal and instrumental pieces and improvisations.
  • meantone temperament Temperament yielding acoustically pure thirds by decreasing the natural fifth by 16 cents. Due to the non-circular character of this temperament, only a limited set of keys are playable. Used for tuning keyboard instruments for performance of pre-1650 music.
  • legatissimo [Italian] Very legato, extremely smooth and connected.
  • misterioso [Italian] Mysterious.
  • seconda volta [Italian] “Second time”; may refer to the second ending of a repetition.
  • lamentevole [Italian] Plaintive, mournful.