Free Music Glossary

Q

• Quadrat See natural.
• quadriglia See quadrille.
• quadrille An early 19th century ballroom dance for four or more couples.
• quadruple counterpoint Counterpoint in four parts.
• quadruple croche See sixty-fourth note.
• quadruple meter Metrical pattern with four beats to a measure.
• quadruplet A group of four notes played in the time usually taken to play six.
• quadruplum Polyphony having four voices. Also, the highest of these voices.
• quarta See fourth.
• quartal harmony Harmony based on the interval of the fourth as opposed to a third; used in twentieth century music.
• quarte See fourth.
• quarter note A note having the time duration of one fourth of a whole note.
• quarter tone Half a semitone.
• quartet A piece for four singers or instrumentalists. Also, a group of such musicians.
• quartetto See quartet.
• quartetto d'archi See string quartet.
• quartina See quadruplet.
• quarto See quarter note.
• Quartole See quadruplet.
• quartolet See quadruplet.
• quasi “Almost”.
• quatuor See quartet.
• quaver See eight note.
• Querflöte See flute.
• quickstep A dance popular in the 1920s in duple meter. Also, a fast march.
• quieto Calm, serene.
• quindicesima See 15ma.
• quinta See fifth.
• quinte See fifth.
• quintet A piece for five singers or instrumentalists. Also, a group of such musicians.
• quintetto d'archi See string quintet.
• quintus Term used in the 16th century for the fifth voice in a composition having five or more vocal parts. Sometimes it was a countermelody added on top of the usual four voices.
• quodlibet A humorous composition that contains snatches of popular melodies and texts presented concurrently or consecutively.