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

  • incalzando [Italian] In a pressing or chasing manner.
  • eilen [German] To hasten, to accelerate.
  • mazurka A lively Polish dance in 3/4 or 3/8 time with the accent usually on the second or third beat of the measure.
  • chorale Baroque congregational hymn of the German Lutheran church, usually written for four voice harmony.
  • allegramente [Italian] Cheerfully.
  • tranquillo [Italian] Calm, quiet.
  • gentile [Italian] Gentle, kind.
  • dur [French] Literally, “hard”. With a harsh or ungraceful tone.
  • non-transposing instrument An instrument which is notated in the same key on paper that it sounds when played.
  • lesto [Italian] Quick, swift.
  • voce piena [Italian] “Full voice”.
  • program music Music intended to evoke extra-musical ideas, images in the mind of the listener by musically representing a scene, image or mood. By contrast, absolute music stands for itself and is intended to be appreciated without any particular reference to the outside world.
  • passepied [French] A baroque dance in triple meter.
  • 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.
  • tristezza [Italian] Sadness.