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

  • multiphonics The technique of performing two or more tones simultaneously on an instrument that is designed to produce only one tone at a time, like the flute.
  • sequence Restatement of an idea or motive at a different pitch level.
  • inconsolato [Italian] Disconsolate, mournful.
  • tailgate A slang term for a trombone Glissando in Dixieland jazz.
  • tema [Italian] Theme, subject.
  • beat The basic time unit of a piece of music. For example, each tick sounded by a metronome would correspond to a beat.
  • militare [Italian] Military.
  • downbeat The first beat of a measure, the strongest in any meter.
  • quadruplet A group of four notes played in the time usually taken to play six.
  • concertino [Italian] The small group of solo instruments used in a concerto grosso in contrast to the whole body of the orchestra.
  • polycoral Performance style developed in the late sixteenth century involving the use of two or more choirs that alternate with each other or sing together.
  • Ryom Verzeichnis [German] A numbering system identifying compositions by Antonio Vivaldi.
  • sarabande [French] Stately Spanish baroque dance type in triple meter, a standard movement of the Baroque suite.
  • andante [Italian] Literally, “going”. A moderate tempo marking, usually around 76–108 BPM.
  • Ländler [German] A folk dance in 3/4 time which was popular in Austria, south Germany and German Switzerland at the end of the 18th century.