Multilingual Music Glossary
A
- a cappella
Choral or vocal music performed without instrumental accompaniment.
- à deux
See a due.
- a due
For two voices or instruments; a duet. Also used to indicate that two instruments playing from the same part or score are to play in unison, after divisi or a solo passage for one of the instruments.
- à la
In the manner of.
- a piacere
See ad libitum.
- a poco a poco
See poco a poco.
- a tempo
A directive to return to the original tempo after a deliberate deviation.
- A440 The standard tuning of the A above middle C at 440 Hz.
- ääni
See voice.
- ääniala
See ambitus.
- abbellimento
See ornament.
- Abendmusik
Evening music, usually religious in nature, originating in the 17th century.
- absolute music Music that is not explicitly “about” anything. In contrast with program music, absolute music has no words and no references to stories or images or any other kind of extra-musical idea.
- absolute pitch See perfect pitch.
- abstract music See absolute music.
- accablé
Overwhelmed.
- accablement
Despondency, oppression.
- accel.
See accelerando.
- accelerando
Gradually accelerating or getting faster.
- accélérez
See accelerando.
- accellerando
See accelerando.
- accent The stress of one tone over others.
- acciaccatura
A short grace note, typically notated with a slash through the stem or flag, that quickly resolves to the main note.
- accolade
See brace.
- accollatura
See system.
- accompagnato
Accompanied.
- 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.
- accord
See chord.
- accord brisé
See arpeggio.
- accordo
See chord.
- Achtel
See eight note.
- Achtelnote
See eight note.
- achtste noot
See eight note.
- ackord
See chord.
- acorde
See chord.
- acoustical instrument Any musical instrument not relying on external power for operation.
- acoustics The science that deals with the study of sound. Also, the art of optimizing sound in a room or other enclosed space, considering reverberation and other acoustical qualities.
- acute See springer.
- ad lib.
See ad libitum.
- ad libitum
Literally, “at will”. At the discretion of the performer. At pleasure, changing the tempo of a particular passage. Sometimes, a part that may be omitted if desired.
- adagietto
A slow tempo marking, slightly faster than adagio.
- adagio
A slow tempo marking, usually around 66–76 BPM.
- adagissimo
An extremely slow tempo marking, slower than adagio.
- additive meter A pattern of beats that subdivide into smaller, irregular groups. It is common in Eastern European musics, and contemporary compositions attempting to emulate such a sound. For example, a time signature like 9/8, which is normally subdivided as 3+3+3, may be subdivided by the composer as 2+3+2+2 for musical effect.
- adirato
Angry, wrathful.
- adorno
See ornament.
- aeolian A mode used in Gregorian chant based upon the sixth tone of the major scale. In the key of C, the aeolian mode would be based on A, and would include A, B, C, D, E, F, G, A.
- affabile
Affable, pleasant.
- affabilità
Literally, “affability”. A directive to perform with ease and elegance, in a pleasing and agreeable manner.
- affabilmente
Easily, gently and agreeably.
- affannato
Anguished.
- affannoso
With anxious expression.
- affettuoso
Tender, loving, affectionate.
- afflitto
Sad, melancholy.
- affrettando
See accelerando.
- agilità
A directive to perform with lightness or agility.
- agitato
Agitated, excited, restless.
- agrément
See ornament.
- air A short song, melody or tune, for voice or instrument.
- akkoord
See chord.
- Akkord
See chord.
- Akkordbrechungen
See arpeggio.
- akkordbrydning
See arpeggio.
- al fine
An indication to repeat a composition either from the beginning (da capo), or from the dal segno symbol, to the place marked fine (Italian for “end”).
- al niente
Literally, “to nothing”. Fade to silence.
- al segno
A directive to return to the sign.
- alborada
Literally, “dawn”. Lively instrumental composition to be played at daybreak, usually in 6/8 time.
- alennusmerkki
See flat.
- all'ottava
Literally, “at the octave”. Directive to perform an indicated passage of a composition one octave higher than notated. Typically, this is indicated by an “8va” or “8” over the passage followed by a dotted line over the top of all the notes to be transposed.
- alla
See à la.
- alla breve
A time marking indicating a quick duple meter, with the half note rather than the quarter note getting the beat (2/2 rather than 4/4).
- allant
Going on, lively.
- allarg.
See allargando.
- allargando
Growing broader, slowing down.
- allegramente
Cheerfully.
- allegretto
A rather fast tempo marking between allegro and moderato, usually around 100–120 BPM.
- allegrezza
Cheerfulness, happiness, joyfulness.
- allegrissimo
A fast tempo marking, faster than allegro.
- allegro
Literally, “cheerful”. A quick tempo marking, usually around 120–168 BPM.
- allentando
See rallentando.
- allmählich
Used in conjunction with a tempo directive to indicate that the directive should be performed gradually, little by little.
- alt
Term used to indicate the tones of the first octave above the treble staff (G5 to F6), which are said to be “in alt”.
- Alte musik
See early music.
- alterezza
Pride or haughtiness.
- alternatief
See ossia.
- altezza
See pitch.
- altflöjt
See alto flute.
- Altflöte
See alto flute.
- altfløjte
See alto flute.
- altfløyte
See alto flute.
- altissimo
Term used to indicate the tones of the second octave above the treble staff (G6 to F7), which are said to be “in altissimo”.
- alto flute A flute pitched in the key of G, sounding a 4th lower than the concert flute.
- altura
See pitch.
- alusta
See da capo.
- amabile
Lovable, charming, amiable.
- amaramente
Bitterly, mournfully, grievingly.
- amatura di chiave
See key signature.
- ambit See ambitus.
- ámbito
See ambitus.
- ambitus
A range of pitches for a given voice in a part of music. It may also denote the pitch range that a musical instrument is capable of playing.
- amorevole
Loving, affectionate.
- amoroso
See amorevole.
- anacrouse
See anacrusis.
- anacrusis One or more unstressed notes preceding the first downbeat in a bar.
- ancora
“Again”.
- ancora
“Still”, as in “still more slowly”.
- andante
Literally, “going”. A moderate tempo marking, usually around 76–108 BPM.
- andantino
A moderate tempo marking, which can be faster or slower than andante.
- andningstecken
See breath mark.
- animato
Animated or spirited.
- animé
See animato.
- Anlaufen
To open, to increase in volume.
- anonymous A person whose name is unknown.
- answer Second entry of the subject in a fugue, usually pitched a fourth below or a fifth above the original subject. If the theme is altered slightly in the answer, then it is said to be a tonal answer, if it is entirely unaltered, it is said to be a real answer.
- anthem A choral setting of an English religious text similar to a motet, usually used in church with or without organ accompaniment.
- apoyatura
See appoggiatura.
- appassionato
Passionate, with intense emotion or feeling.
- appoggiatura
Ornamental note, usually taking half of the duration of the main note it precedes.
- appoggiature
See appoggiatura.
- apuviiva
See ledger line.
- arabesque
An ornament or an embellished work. The term is taken from the Arabic art and architecture which is very ornate.
- aria
Lyric song for solo voice with orchestral accompaniment, generally expressing intense emotion; found in opera, cantata, and oratorio.
- arioso
A short, melodious composition in the style of an aria.
- armadura
See key signature.
- armature
See key signature.
- armonia
See harmony.
- armonioso
Harmonious, pleasant-sounding.
- armure
See key signature.
- arpège
See arpeggio.
- arpeggio
Broken chord in which the individual tones are sounded one after another instead of simultaneously.
- arpegio
See arpeggio.
- arrangement A rewriting of a piece of existing music with additional new material, or a fleshing-out of a compositional sketch. If a musical adaptation does not include new material, it is more accurately termed a transcription or orchestration.
- arsis See upbeat.
- art music Music implying advanced structural and theoretical considerations and a written musical tradition. It is frequently used as a contrasting term to popular music and folk music.
- art song A vocal music composition, usually written for one singer with piano or orchestral accompaniment.
- articulation The manner in which adjacent notes of a melody are connected or separated. Woodwind and brass instruments generally articulate by tonguing, the use of the tongue to break the airflow into the instrument.
- assai
Much, very much.
- asteikko
See scale.
- Atemzeichen
See breath mark.
- återställningstecken
See natural.
- attacca
A musical directive for the performer to begin the next section of a composition immediately and without pause.
- attack The method of beginning a phrase.
- åttondelsnot
See eight note.
- au mouvement
See a tempo.
- aubade
A song or instrumental composition concerning, accompanying, or evoking daybreak.
- audition The term used for the try-outs that a musician must go through before his or her acceptance into an ensemble.
- Auflösungszeichen
See natural.
- Auftakt
See upbeat.
- augmentation Statement of a melody in longer note values, often twice as slow as the original.
- Ausdrucksvoll
Expressive.
- autografo
See autograph.
- autograph A manuscript in the composer's own hand.
- autographe
See autograph.
- avain
See clef.
- avec
“With”.
- ayre See air.