Free Music Glossary

I

• ictus The instant when a beat occurs.
• imitation Compositional technique in which a melodic idea is presented in one voice (or part), then restated in another while the first voice continues with new material.
• immer Ever, always.
• impetuoso Impetuous, vehement.
• impromptu A single-movement piano composition of the Romantic era, usually short, with a spontaneous character.
• improvisation Creation of a musical composition while it is being performed.
• in drei See triple meter.
• in tempo See a tempo.
• in zwei See duple meter.
• incalzando In a pressing or chasing manner.
• incidental music Music written to accompany dramatic works.
• incipit The beginning of a musical composition.
• incise See motive.
• inciso See motive.
• inconsolato Disconsolate, mournful.
• inconsonant See dissonance.
• inflection Small alteration of the pitch by a microtonal interval.
• inline G On a flute, the standard position of the left-hand G (third-finger) key: in line with the first and second keys.
• innigster “Sincere”.
• inno nazionale See national anthem.
• innocentemente Innocently.
• inprickningar See cue-notes.
• inquieto Restless, uneasy, agitated.
• instrument Any device used to create music.
• instrumentation The particular combination of musical instruments employed in a composition.
• instrumenttiosuus See part.
• interlude Any piece of music played or sung between the movements of a larger composition.
• interludio See interlude.
• intermède See intermezzo.
• intermedio In the Renaissance, a musical entertainment between the acts of a play.
• intermedium See intermezzo.
• intermezzo Short lyric piece or movement, often for piano. Also, a comic interlude performed between acts of an eighteenth century opera seria.
• interpretation The manner in which a performer carries out a composer's performance directions.
• interval Difference in pitch between two notes.
• intervalle See interval.
• intervallo See interval.
• intervalo See interval.
• intonation A term referring to the proper production of a tone so that it is exactly in tune.
• intonation juste See just intonation.
• intonazione See intonation.
• intonazione giusta See just intonation.
• intontito Dull, numbed, dazed, stunned.
• invención See invention.
• inventio See invention.
• invention Mostly in reference to baroque music, a short, contrapuntal composition, usually implying an originality of idea.
• invenzione See invention.
• inversion The position of a chord when the fundamental is not the lowest note. Also, the inversion of the order of the notes of an interval, obtained by raising or lowering either of the notes the necessary number of octaves.
• ionian In the system of modes, the ionian mode is the one based on C; therefore, it is the modern major scale.
• irato Irate, angry.
• islancio See con slancio.
• isorhythmic motet Medieval and early Renaissance motet based on a repeating rhythmic pattern throughout one or more voices.
• Italian overture The baroque precursor of the classical symphony, evolved during the 17th and 18th centuries; it is characterized by its three movement form, consisting of a fast, a slow, and a fast movement.