Free Music Glossary

A

• a cappella Choral or vocal music performed without instrumental accompaniment.
• à deux See a due.
• a due For two voices or instruments; a duet. Also used to indicate that two instruments playing from the same part or score are to play in unison, after divisi or a solo passage for one of the instruments.
• à la In the manner of.
• a piacere See ad libitum.
• a poco a poco See poco a poco.
• a tempo A directive to return to the original tempo after a deliberate deviation.
• A440 The standard tuning of the A above middle C at 440 Hz.
• ääni See voice.
• ääniala See ambitus.
• abbellimento See ornament.
• Abendmusik Evening music, usually religious in nature, originating in the 17th century.
• absolute music Music that is not explicitly “about” anything. In contrast with program music, absolute music has no words and no references to stories or images or any other kind of extra-musical idea.
• absolute pitch See perfect pitch.
• abstract music See absolute music.
• accablé Overwhelmed.
• accablement Despondency, oppression.
• accel. See accelerando.
• accelerando Gradually accelerating or getting faster.
• accélérez See accelerando.
• accellerando See accelerando.
• accent The stress of one tone over others.
• acciaccatura A short grace note, typically notated with a slash through the stem or flag, that quickly resolves to the main note.
• accolade See brace.
• accollatura See system.
• accompagnato Accompanied.
• accompaniment Additional but subordinate music used to support a melodic line. Also, the art of playing along with a soloist or ensemble in a supporting manner.
• accord See chord.
• accord brisé See arpeggio.
• accordo See chord.
• Achtel See eight note.
• Achtelnote See eight note.
• achtste noot See eight note.
• ackord See chord.
• acorde See chord.
• acoustical instrument Any musical instrument not relying on external power for operation.
• acoustics The science that deals with the study of sound. Also, the art of optimizing sound in a room or other enclosed space, considering reverberation and other acoustical qualities.
• acute See springer.
• ad lib. See ad libitum.
• ad libitum Literally, “at will”. At the discretion of the performer. At pleasure, changing the tempo of a particular passage. Sometimes, a part that may be omitted if desired.
• adagietto A slow tempo marking, slightly faster than adagio.
• adagio A slow tempo marking, usually around 66–76 BPM.
• adagissimo An extremely slow tempo marking, slower than adagio.
• additive meter A pattern of beats that subdivide into smaller, irregular groups. It is common in Eastern European musics, and contemporary compositions attempting to emulate such a sound. For example, a time signature like 9/8, which is normally subdivided as 3+3+3, may be subdivided by the composer as 2+3+2+2 for musical effect.
• adirato Angry, wrathful.
• adorno See ornament.
• aeolian A mode used in Gregorian chant based upon the sixth tone of the major scale. In the key of C, the aeolian mode would be based on A, and would include A, B, C, D, E, F, G, A.
• affabile Affable, pleasant.
• affabilità Literally, “affability”. A directive to perform with ease and elegance, in a pleasing and agreeable manner.
• affabilmente Easily, gently and agreeably.
• affannato Anguished.
• affannoso With anxious expression.
• affettuoso Tender, loving, affectionate.
• afflitto Sad, melancholy.
• affrettando See accelerando.
• agilità A directive to perform with lightness or agility.
• agitato Agitated, excited, restless.
• agrément See ornament.
• air A short song, melody or tune, for voice or instrument.
• akkoord See chord.
• Akkord See chord.
• Akkordbrechungen See arpeggio.
• akkordbrydning See arpeggio.
• al fine An indication to repeat a composition either from the beginning (da capo), or from the dal segno symbol, to the place marked fine (Italian for “end”).
• al niente Literally, “to nothing”. Fade to silence.
• al segno A directive to return to the sign.
• alborada Literally, “dawn”. Lively instrumental composition to be played at daybreak, usually in 6/8 time.
• alennusmerkki See flat.
• all'ottava Literally, “at the octave”. Directive to perform an indicated passage of a composition one octave higher than notated. Typically, this is indicated by an “8va” or “8” over the passage followed by a dotted line over the top of all the notes to be transposed.
• alla See à la.
• alla breve A time marking indicating a quick duple meter, with the half note rather than the quarter note getting the beat (2/2 rather than 4/4).
• allant Going on, lively.
• allarg. See allargando.
• allargando Growing broader, slowing down.
• allegramente Cheerfully.
• allegretto A rather fast tempo marking between allegro and moderato, usually around 100–120 BPM.
• allegrezza Cheerfulness, happiness, joyfulness.
• allegrissimo A fast tempo marking, faster than allegro.
• allegro Literally, “cheerful”. A quick tempo marking, usually around 120–168 BPM.
• allentando See rallentando.
• allmählich Used in conjunction with a tempo directive to indicate that the directive should be performed gradually, little by little.
• alt Term used to indicate the tones of the first octave above the treble staff (G5 to F6), which are said to be “in alt”.
• Alte musik See early music.
• alterezza Pride or haughtiness.
• alternatief See ossia.
• altezza See pitch.
• altflöjt See alto flute.
• Altflöte See alto flute.
• altfløjte See alto flute.
• altfløyte See alto flute.
• altissimo Term used to indicate the tones of the second octave above the treble staff (G6 to F7), which are said to be “in altissimo”.
• alto flute A flute pitched in the key of G, sounding a 4th lower than the concert flute.
• altura See pitch.
• alusta See da capo.
• amabile Lovable, charming, amiable.
• amaramente Bitterly, mournfully, grievingly.
• amatura di chiave See key signature.
• ambit See ambitus.
• ámbito See ambitus.
• ambitus A range of pitches for a given voice in a part of music. It may also denote the pitch range that a musical instrument is capable of playing.
• amorevole Loving, affectionate.
• amoroso See amorevole.
• anacrouse See anacrusis.
• anacrusis One or more unstressed notes preceding the first downbeat in a bar.
• ancora “Again”.
• ancora “Still”, as in “still more slowly”.
• andante Literally, “going”. A moderate tempo marking, usually around 76–108 BPM.
• andantino A moderate tempo marking, which can be faster or slower than andante.
• andningstecken See breath mark.
• animato Animated or spirited.
• animé See animato.
• Anlaufen To open, to increase in volume.
• anonymous A person whose name is unknown.
• answer Second entry of the subject in a fugue, usually pitched a fourth below or a fifth above the original subject. If the theme is altered slightly in the answer, then it is said to be a tonal answer, if it is entirely unaltered, it is said to be a real answer.
• anthem A choral setting of an English religious text similar to a motet, usually used in church with or without organ accompaniment.
• apoyatura See appoggiatura.
• appassionato Passionate, with intense emotion or feeling.
• appoggiatura Ornamental note, usually taking half of the duration of the main note it precedes.
• appoggiature See appoggiatura.
• apuviiva See ledger line.
• arabesque An ornament or an embellished work. The term is taken from the Arabic art and architecture which is very ornate.
• aria Lyric song for solo voice with orchestral accompaniment, generally expressing intense emotion; found in opera, cantata, and oratorio.
• arioso A short, melodious composition in the style of an aria.
• armadura See key signature.
• armature See key signature.
• armonia See harmony.
• armonioso Harmonious, pleasant-sounding.
• armure See key signature.
• arpège See arpeggio.
• arpeggio Broken chord in which the individual tones are sounded one after another instead of simultaneously.
• arpegio See arpeggio.
• arrangement A rewriting of a piece of existing music with additional new material, or a fleshing-out of a compositional sketch. If a musical adaptation does not include new material, it is more accurately termed a transcription or orchestration.
• arsis See upbeat.
• art music Music implying advanced structural and theoretical considerations and a written musical tradition. It is frequently used as a contrasting term to popular music and folk music.
• art song A vocal music composition, usually written for one singer with piano or orchestral accompaniment.
• articulation The manner in which adjacent notes of a melody are connected or separated. Woodwind and brass instruments generally articulate by tonguing, the use of the tongue to break the airflow into the instrument.
• assai Much, very much.
• asteikko See scale.
• Atemzeichen See breath mark.
• återställningstecken See natural.
• attacca A musical directive for the performer to begin the next section of a composition immediately and without pause.
• attack The method of beginning a phrase.
• åttondelsnot See eight note.
• au mouvement See a tempo.
• aubade A song or instrumental composition concerning, accompanying, or evoking daybreak.
• audition The term used for the try-outs that a musician must go through before his or her acceptance into an ensemble.
• Auflösungszeichen See natural.
• Auftakt See upbeat.
• augmentation Statement of a melody in longer note values, often twice as slow as the original.
• Ausdrucksvoll Expressive.
• autografo See autograph.
• autograph A manuscript in the composer's own hand.
• autographe See autograph.
• avain See clef.
• avec “With”.
• ayre See air.