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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Some random terms

  • just intonation Tuning system in which the notes are obtained by adding and subtracting natural fifths and thirds.
  • retransition In sonata-allegro form, the last part of the development which leads to the tonic of the main key and usually emphasizes it.
  • thirty-second note A note having the time duration of one thirty-second of a whole note.
  • quasi [Italian] “Almost”.
  • zusammen [German] Literally, “together”. A directive to perform a certain passage of music together with other musicians in the section. Typically found after a divisi.
  • neoromantic A compositional style of the 20th century embodying the techniques and characteristics of the romantic period.
  • con mala grazia [Italian] Ungracefully, awkwardly.
  • romantic The era of music following the classical period, going from about 1815 to 1910.
  • ober [German] Upper, higher.
  • loco [Latin] A directive to play in the normal playing position; it cancels any previous direction to play in an unusual position, like all'ottava.
  • false note A muted or dampened note that has rhythm but often no discernible pitch.
  • easy listening A genre of popular music that is meant to be soothing and relaxing to the listener.
  • bore The diameter of the tube of a woodwind or brass instrument. The shape of the bore in part dictates the timbre or tone color of the instrument.
  • brillante [Italian] Bright, brilliant.
  • Empfindung [German] Feeling, sentiment.