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

  • patter song A comic song in opera and operetta, characterized by a moderately fast to very fast tempo with a rapid succession of rhythmic patterns in which each syllable of text corresponds to one note (there are few or no melismatic passages).
  • cakewalk Traditional, syncopated African-American form of music and dance which originated among slaves in the Southern United States.
  • agilità [Italian] A directive to perform with lightness or agility.
  • con passione [Italian] “With passion”.
  • monophony Music that is written for only one voice or part.
  • gaudioso [Italian] Joyous, joyful.
  • passamezzo [Italian] A 16th and 17th century Italian dance similar to or identical to the pavane.
  • triplet Three notes of equal length that are to be performed in the duration of two notes of equal length.
  • outer voices The highest and the lowest voices in a polyphonic composition.
  • 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.
  • prima donna [Italian] Literally, “first lady”. Term used in opera for the principal female singer of the opera or of the opera company.
  • encore [French] “Again”.
  • dramatic soprano A soprano voice type with a heavier tone color and more power throughout her range.
  • comodo [Italian] Comfortable.
  • feierlich [German] Solemn.