Multilingual Music Glossary
T
- tablature Any form of musical notation using symbols or letters rather than notes on the staff to describe pitches.
- tacet
Literally, “he is silent”. An indication that a performer is to be silent for some time.
- Tafelmusik
Literally, “table music”. Music that is performed at feasts and banquets.
- taglio addizionale
See ledger line.
- tahti
See measure.
- tailgate A slang term for a trombone Glissando in Dixieland jazz.
- Takt
See measure.
- Takt
See beat.
- Taktangabe
See time signature.
- Taktart
See meter.
- Taktschlag
See beat.
- taktslag
See beat.
- tango
A dance in 2/4 time from Argentina.
- tanto
Much.
- Tanz
See dance.
- tarantella
A fast Italian dance in 6/8 time, characterized by alternations between major and minor tonalities and a quickening of tempo throughout the composition.
- tardamente
Slowly.
- tardo
Slow.
- Tartini tone See difference tone.
- tasavireinen
See equal temperament.
- tasto solo
Literally, “key only”. A directive indicating that a note is to be performed without harmony, especially used in compositions that use continuo.
- tauko
See rest.
- technique The mechanical aspect of performing a composition.
- teema
See motive.
- teksthaak
See brace.
- tel
See beat.
- tema
Theme, subject.
- temperament The division of an octave into twelve equal parts.
- tempérament égal
See equal temperament.
- tempérament mésotonique
See meantone temperament.
- temperamento
See Stimmung.
- temperamento equabile
See equal temperament.
- temperamento igual
See equal temperament.
- temperamento mesotonico
See meantone temperament.
- Temperatur
See Stimmung.
- tempestoso
Stormy.
- tempo
Literally, “time”. The speed of a piece of music, usually reckoned by the rate of its beats.
- tempo
See beat.
- tempo binario
See simple meter.
- tempo giusto
A directive to perform in exact, strict time.
- tempo I°
See a tempo.
- tempo primo
See a tempo.
- tempo ternario
See compound meter.
- temps
See beat.
- temps binaire
See simple meter.
- temps ternaire
See compound meter.
- teneramente
Tenderly.
- tenerezza
Tenderness.
- tenuto
A directive to perform a certain note or chord of a composition in a sustained manner for longer than its full duration.
- tercera
See third.
- ternary form A three-part musical structure (ABA) based on statement (A), contrast (B) and repetition (A).
- terraced dynamics Expressive style typical of some early music in which volume levels shift abruptly from soft to loud and back without gradual crescendos and decrescendos.
- tertian harmony Term applied to harmony which is based upon the interval of the third.
- Terz
See third.
- terza
See third.
- terzetto
A three-voice compositional form of the 18th century, usually short, which may or may not be accompanied.
- terzina
See triplet.
- tessitura
The most musically acceptable and comfortable range for a given singer or, less frequently, musical instrument.
- texture The interweaving of melodic (horizontal) and harmonic (vertical) elements in the musical fabric. Texture is generally described as monophonic (single line), heterophonic (elaboration on a single line), homophonic (single line with accompaniment), or polyphonic (many voiced).
- theme The musical basis upon which a composition is built. Usually a theme consists of a recognizable melody or a characteristic rhythmic pattern.
- theme and variations A style of composition that first presents a basic theme and then develops and alters that theme in successive statements.
- theme group Several themes in the same key that function as a unit within a section of a form, particularly in sonata-allegro form.
- thesis See downbeat.
- third An interval of three diatonic degrees, counting the first and last degree.
- thirty-second note A note having the time duration of one thirty-second of a whole note.
- thorough bass See figured bass.
- three-part form See ternary form.
- threnody A poem, a song, or an instrumental composition that expresses lament for the dead.
- through-composed Song form that is composed from beginning to end without repetitions of any major sections, each verse having its own, unique melody.
- tidig musik
See early music.
- tie A curved line drawn over or under the heads of two notes of the same pitch indicating that they should be played as a single note.
- tief
Deep, low.
- tiempo
See beat.
- tiempo binario
See simple meter.
- tiento
A Spanish Renaissance composition resembling the ricercare or the fantasia.
- tierce
See third.
- tierce de Picardie
A practice from the baroque era of ending a composition with a major chord, when the rest of the composition is in a minor key, thus giving the composition a sense of finality.
- timbre
The quality of a sound; that component of a tone that causes different instruments (for example a flute and a violin) to sound different from each other while they are both playing the same note.
- time signature A symbol placed at the left side of the staff indicating the meter of the composition.
- timoroso
Timorous, fearful; with hesitation.
- tin whistle See penny whistle.
- toccata
Virtuoso composition, generally for organ or harpsichord, in a free and rhapsodic style; in the Baroque, it often served as the introduction to a fugue.
- todelt takt
See duple meter.
- Todesgesang
See dirge.
- Todtenlied
See dirge.
- tombeau
Literally, “grave”. An instrumental funeral composition or a composition which commemorates the death of someone.
- ton
See tone.
- ton
See whole tone.
- tonada
See melody.
- tonalidad
See tonality.
- tonalità
See tonality.
- tonalità relativa
See relative key.
- tonalité
See tonality.
- tonalité relative
See relative key.
- tonaliteetti
See tonality.
- tonality The organization of a composition around a tonic.
- Tonart
See tonality.
- tonartssignatur
See key signature.
- Tondichtung
See symphonic poem.
- tone A sound of definite pitch and duration, as distinct from noise. Tone is a primary building material of music.
- tone color See timbre.
- tone poem See symphonic poem.
- toneart
See tonality.
- tonehøjde
See pitch.
- tonguing In the performance of wind instruments, the technique of using the tongue to produce certain sounds and effects, and especially the technique in which notes are attacked and articulated.
- Tonhöhe
See pitch.
- tonhöjd
See pitch.
- tonic The note upon which a scale or key is based.
- tonlängd
See duration.
- Tonleiter
See scale.
- Tonleiterstufe
See degree.
- tono
See whole tone.
- toonhoogte
See pitch.
- toonladder
See scale.
- toonsoort
See tonality.
- tosto
Swiftly, rapidly.
- total artwork See Gesamtkunstwerk.
- toujours
Always.
- tourney A composition created for a tournament, popular in the 17th century especially in Italy and France. Tourneys were often used in weddings and other festive occasions.
- träblåsare
See woodwind.
- traditional music Music that is learned by oral transmission and is easily sung or played by most people.
- tranquillo
Calm, quiet.
- transcription Either notating an unnotated piece, or rewriting a piece, either simply recopying, as for clarity, or as an arrangement for another instrument.
- transporte
See transposition.
- transposing instrument Those instruments which are notated in one key on paper, yet sound another key when they are performed.
- transposition Shifting a melody up or down in pitch, while keeping the same relative pitches.
- transverse flute The regular orchestral flute, as distinct from the recorder.
- trapsgewijze
See conjunct.
- trascrizione
See transcription.
- trasposizione
See transposition.
- tratt.
See trattenuto.
- trattenuto
See ritenuto.
- traurig
Sad.
- traversflöjt
See flute.
- træblæsere
See woodwind.
- treble The highest part of a polyphonic composition.
- tredelt takt
See triple meter.
- tremblement
See trill.
- tremolando
See tremolo.
- tremolo
A rapid alternation between two notes.
- Trennungszeichen
See breath mark.
- trepak A Russian dance in quick duple meter.
- très
“Very”, “much”.
- tresillo
See triplet.
- tretakt
See triple meter.
- triad A chord made up of three notes.
- trill Ornament consisting of the rapid alternation between one tone and the next above it.
- trille
See trill.
- trille double
See double trill.
- Triller
See trill.
- trillo
See trill.
- trino
See trill.
- trino doble
See double trill.
- trinvis
See conjunct.
- trio
A composition for three performers.
- trio sonata
A baroque sonata for two treble instruments and continuo, generally requiring four performers.
- triol
See triplet.
- Triole
See triplet.
- triolet
See triplet.
- triple croche
See thirty-second note.
- triple meter A metrical pattern having three beats to a measure.
- triple tonguing See double tonguing.
- triplet Three notes of equal length that are to be performed in the duration of two notes of equal length.
- tristamente
Sadly.
- triste
Sad.
- tristezza
Sadness.
- tritone A dissonant interval consisting of three whole steps.
- tritono
See tritone.
- Tritonus
See tritone.
- Trommelbass
Literally, “drum-bass”. A bass line that contains steady, constant, repeated notes.
- tronco
A directive to perform a certain passage short or “cut off”.
- troppo
Too much.
- tune An air or melody, a succession of sounds that has definite character and shape and is pleasing to the ear.
- tuning The adjustment of the pitch of an instrument. Also, the set pitches to which an instrument is tuned.
- Turmmusik
Literally, “tower music”. A term referring to the music, usually performed on wind instruments, which is played from a tower of a town hall or a church tower. Turmmusik was common in Germany from the 16th century to the 18th century.
- turn An ornament consisting of four notes, alternating the main note with the one above it and the one below.
- tutti
“All”. A directive to perform with all instruments together.
- tvärflöjt
See flute.
- tvåtakt
See duple meter.
- tverrfløyten
See flute.
- tweedelige maatsoort
See duple meter.
- twelve-tone technique See dodecaphony.
- two-part form See binary form.
- tyrolienne
A dance form in quick triple meter.
- Tzigane
Term used for a composition having gypsy influences or flavor.