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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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

  • ut [Latin] The syllable first associated with the tonic of the key, now replaced by the syllable "Do" but still used in France. In the fixed Do system, this is always C.
  • clef In musical notation, a symbol at the beginning of a staff that determines the pitches of the lines and spaces. The most common clefs are treble, for indicating pitches mostly above middle C, and bass, for indicating pitches mostly below middle C.
  • spigliato [Italian] Self-confident, bold, smooth.
  • reprise [French] Repetition.
  • mutig [German] Courageous, spirited.
  • jarabe [Spanish] Traditional Mexican dance form with multiple sections in contrasting meters and tempos.
  • di molto [Italian] “By much”.
  • stanchezza [Italian] Weariness.
  • score The complete musical notation of a composition, especially for an ensemble, where the individual parts are lined up vertically.
  • serein [French] Serene, calm.
  • paraphrase In the Renaissance, a melody borrowed from another source (usually chant) and then elaborated freely. In the 19th century, a virtuoso composition using popular melodies, usually from operas, in an elaborated manner.
  • episode Interlude or intermediate section in the baroque fugue, which serves as an area of relaxation between statements of the subject.
  • mezzo forte [Italian] Moderately loud. Not quite so loud as forte.
  • basse dance [French] A graceful, stately court dance of the early Renaissance.
  • slur A curved line drawn over or under a series of notes, indicating that those notes should be played legato.