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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Some random terms

  • licenza [Italian] A directive to perform a certain passage with some freedom of manner.
  • timoroso [Italian] Timorous, fearful; with hesitation.
  • Schottische [German] A German round dance in duple time.
  • martellato [Italian] Literally, “hammered”. Strongly marked.
  • rigaudon [French] A lively French dance, originally a folk dance but also a court dance and an instrumental form, in duple meter.
  • part writing The component of counterpoint that recognizes each voice as an individual, horizontal melody rather than as a part of the resultant, vertical chords.
  • overtone A constituent frequency of a sound other than the fundamental frequency.
  • dynamics The softness or loudness of a sound or note.
  • aubade [French] A song or instrumental composition concerning, accompanying, or evoking daybreak.
  • quintet A piece for five singers or instrumentalists. Also, a group of such musicians.
  • nocturne [French] A composition to be played at night in the open air. Also used by composers for piano and orchestral pieces that suggest some aspect of the night and are usually solemn and contemplative.
  • gypsy scale A scale resembling the harmonic minor scale, but with an augmented fourth. It is called the Gypsy scale because of its exotic sound and its use in Hungarian music.
  • ballad In jazz and popular music, a short song in a slow tempo, usually with a romantic or sentimental text.
  • accompaniment Additional but subordinate music used to support a melodic line. Also, the art of playing along with a soloist or ensemble in a supporting manner.
  • quarter note A note having the time duration of one fourth of a whole note.