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

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

  • contrary motion Simultaneous motion of two voices, one of which is in opposition to the other, with one voice rising in pitch while the other one falls in pitch.
  • polka A lively ballroom dance of Bohemian origin in duple meter greatly, popular in the 19th century. Also a short, lyric piano composition.
  • tango [Spanish] A dance in 2/4 time from Argentina.
  • Zimmerman numbers The numbering system identifying compositions by Henry Purcell.
  • afflitto [Italian] Sad, melancholy.
  • divertimento [Italian] Instrumental composition intended for entertainment, usually in a number of movements. The term is used particularly in the second half of the 18th century.
  • brioso [Italian] Vivacious, spirited, lively.
  • larynx The upper part of the trachea in the human throat. It is the mechanism that varies the tone of the voice.
  • subject The melody upon which a fugue is based; a melody, motive, or theme. The theme or melody upon which any composition is based.
  • elegy A funeral song; a mournful or plaintive composition.
  • diatonic scale A seven note musical scale, consisting of five whole steps and two half steps.
  • polyharmony Two or more streams of harmony played against each other; common in twentieth century music.
  • trill Ornament consisting of the rapid alternation between one tone and the next above it.
  • à la [French] In the manner of.
  • zeloso [Italian] Zealous, keen, earnest.