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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Found a word you don't know? No problem. Look it up in the Music Glossary!

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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Please note: a music glossary is just like a dictionary. It contains explanations to musical terms. If you are looking for a piece, please go here instead: search tunes.

Some random terms

  • pas [French] “Not”.
  • symphony In the early 18th century, any instrumental prelude, interlude, or postlude. In modern usage, the term is applied to a large composition for orchestra, generally in three or four movements. The symphony may also be defined as a sonata for orchestra.
  • diminuendo [Italian] A directive to smoothly decrease the volume.
  • staggered breathing A technique used in musical ensembles by wind instruments to create the effect of a continuous sound with no breaks for performers to breathe. The effect is created by making sure that in each section no performer is breathing at the same time, so that it seems like no one is breathing at all.
  • volando [Italian] Flying.
  • cantoris [Latin] Literally, “of the cantor”. In Anglican church music, referring to the half of the choir sitting on the cantor's side of the church.
  • resonator Term referring to those parts of instruments which resonate or vibrate, thus enhancing the sound of the instrument.
  • ode A composition written in commemoration and celebration of a particular event, object, or person. Especially popular in England.
  • carol A festive song, generally religious but not necessarily connected with church worship, and often with a dance-like or popular character.
  • roulade [French] A highly ornamented vocal composition, usually for one voice and accompaniment.
  • spianato [Italian] leveled, even, smooth.
  • brio [Italian] Vivacity, spirit, liveliness.
  • rabbia [Italian] Rage, fury, anger.
  • duplet A group of two notes played in the time usually taken to play three.
  • stinger A chord at the end of a march that is used to punctuate the ending of the composition. The stinger is typically played by the entire ensemble on the last beat of the last measure of the composition and contains an accent.