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

  • villancico [Spanish] A 15th and 16th century form of Spanish poetry that was often set to music.
  • vocalise [French] A vocal exercise that is sung without words, typically using different vowel sounds.
  • instrumentation The particular combination of musical instruments employed in a composition.
  • Leitmotiv [German] A term adopted by Wagner's disciples to designate the “leading motives” in his operas.
  • mezzo [Italian] Half, medium.
  • relative pitch The ability to identify any pitch in reference to a given pitch.
  • stentato [Italian] Labored, heavy, in a dragging manner, sluggish. Alternatively, strong and forced.
  • bravura [Italian] Literally, “skill”. Great dexterity and skill in execution.
  • countertenor A male voice of unusually high range, generally achieved through falsetto. The countertenor has the range of either the female alto or soprano.
  • pas de deux [French] An established item in ballet consisting of a dance performed by two dancers.
  • agitato [Italian] Agitated, excited, restless.
  • ganz [German] Whole, entire, all.
  • andante [Italian] Literally, “going”. A moderate tempo marking, usually around 76–108 BPM.
  • masque [French] English genre of aristocratic entertainment that combined vocal and instrumental music with poetry and dance, developed during the 16th and 17th centuries.
  • false note A muted or dampened note that has rhythm but often no discernible pitch.