Multilingual Music Glossary
Z
- Z See Zimmerman numbers.
- zart
Tender, delicate.
- zarzuela
A Spanish lyric-dramatic genre that alternates between spoken and sung scenes, the latter incorporating operatic and popular song, as well as dance.
- Zäsur
See caesura.
- zeloso
Zealous, keen, earnest.
- zestiende noot
See sixteenth note.
- Zimmerman numbers The numbering system identifying compositions by Henry Purcell.
- zin
See phrase.
- Zirkularatmung
See circular breathing.
- zu
“Too” (excessively).
- zu
Shown as zu2, zu3, etc., it is a directive to indicate the number of musicians to perform the indicated passage of music.
- Zungenstoss
Tongue thrust.
- zurückhaltung
See ritardando.
- zusammen
Literally, “together”. A directive to perform a certain passage of music together with other musicians in the section. Typically found after a divisi.
- Zusammenklang
See harmony.
- Zusammenschlag
See acciaccatura.
- Zweiunddreissigstel
See thirty-second note.
- Zweiunddreissigstelnote
See thirty-second note.
- Zwischenspiel
An interlude played between the verses of a hymn.