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

  • Zungenstoss [German] Tongue thrust.
  • plainte [French] A song or instrumental composition with a slow, lamenting character.
  • stanchezza [Italian] Weariness.
  • affabilità [Italian] Literally, “affability”. A directive to perform with ease and elegance, in a pleasing and agreeable manner.
  • hemiola In modern musical parlance, a metrical pattern in which two bars in simple triple time are articulated as if they were three bars in simple duple time.
  • bar Each of the lines drawn perpendicularly across the staff to divide it into measures. In common usage the term may also mean measure.
  • flamenco [Spanish] A genre of dance and music characterized by its use of modes, its unusual rhythm patterns and its use of guitar accompaniment.
  • furioso [Italian] “Furious”.
  • con [Italian] “With”.
  • zart [German] Tender, delicate.
  • toujours [French] Always.
  • più [Italian] “More”.
  • interpretation The manner in which a performer carries out a composer's performance directions.
  • feierlich [German] Solemn.
  • nobile [Italian] “Noble“, grand, impressive.