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

  • niente [Italian] Literally, “nothing”. With almost no sound.
  • interlude Any piece of music played or sung between the movements of a larger composition.
  • non-harmonic note In part writing, a note that is dissonant with other notes in the same chord.
  • Schottische [German] A German round dance in duple time.
  • semitone The interval of a minor second.
  • bizzarro [Italian] Odd, whimsical, irregular.
  • mezza voce [Italian] Literally, “half voice”. A directive to perform in a quiet or restrained manner.
  • l'istesso tempo [Italian] Literally, “the same tempo”. An indication that directs that the beat remains constant when the meter changes.
  • church mode A term used for the categories of modes used in Gregorian chant.
  • vif [French] A tempo directive meaning “lively”.
  • natural key A key whose signature contains no sharps or flats; basically, C major and A minor.
  • tronco [Italian] A directive to perform a certain passage short or “cut off”.
  • no chord A directive placed over a note (or a series of notes) signifying that the note(s) should be performed without accompaniment. Typically found in popular music notation.
  • septet A piece for seven singers or instrumentalists. Also, a group of such musicians.
  • minimalist music Contemporary musical style featuring the repetition of short melodic, rhythmic and harmonic patterns with little variation.