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
- ballad In jazz and popular music, a short song in a slow tempo, usually with a romantic or sentimental text.
- ostinato
Literally, “obstinate”. A short melodic, rhythmic, or harmonic pattern that is repeated throughout a composition. - tranquillo
Calm, quiet. - homophony Music in which one voice leads melodically followed by the other voices more or less in the same rhythm. In contrast with polyphony.
- transposing instrument Those instruments which are notated in one key on paper, yet sound another key when they are performed.
- agilità
A directive to perform with lightness or agility. - pop Term born as an abbreviation of popular music, that since the 1950s has been used in the sense of a musical genre, originally characterized as a lighter alternative to rock and roll.
- andantino
A moderate tempo marking, which can be faster or slower than andante. - mancando
A directive for the volume to grow quieter and die away. - militare
Military. - accompagnato
Accompanied. - harmony Tones sounding simultaneously.
- rapidamente
Rapidly. - espressione
“Expression”. - heavy metal Rock style that gained popularity in the 1970s, characterized by simple, repetitive ideas and loud, distorted instrumental solos.