Multilingual Music Glossary
N
- N.C. See no chord.
- nach
“After”.
- Nachahmung
Imitation.
- Nachtmusik
See nocturne.
- national anthem A song, usually an anthem, a fanfare, a march, or a hymn, that is used as a national symbol.
- Nationalhymne
See national anthem.
- nationalsång
See national anthem.
- natural A symbol placed by a note signifying that the note should be played unaltered, as opposed to the sharp or flat of the note.
- natural key A key whose signature contains no sharps or flats; basically, C major and A minor.
- natural minor scale A scale similar to the major scale, but with the third, sixth and seventh degrees lowered by a semitone.
- negligente
“Negligent”, unrestrained.
- negra
See quarter note.
- neoclassical Term applied to 20th century composers who use the forms and thematic processes of the classical era.
- neoromantic A compositional style of the 20th century embodying the techniques and characteristics of the romantic period.
- nera
See quarter note.
- neuvième
See ninth.
- new age Style of popular music of the 1980s and 1990s, characterized by soothing timbres and repetitive forms that are subjected to shifting variation techniques.
- new wave Subgenre of rock popular since the late 1970s, highly influenced by simple 1950s-style rock and roll; developed as a rejection of the complexities of art rock and heavy metal.
- nicht
“Not“.
- niente
Literally, “nothing”. With almost no sound.
- ninth An interval of five diatonic degrees, counting the first and last degree.
- no chord A directive placed over a note (or a series of notes) signifying that the note(s) should be performed without accompaniment. Typically found in popular music notation.
- nobile
“Noble“, grand, impressive.
- nocturne
A composition to be played at night in the open air. Also used by composers for piano and orchestral pieces that suggest some aspect of the night and are usually solemn and contemplative.
- node
See note.
- Noël
Christmas.
- noire
See quarter note.
- Nokturn
See nocturne.
- non
“Not”.
- non troppo
Not too much.
- non-harmonic note In part writing, a note that is dissonant with other notes in the same chord.
- non-imitative counterpoint A musical texture in which independent voices of different character compete for attention.
- non-transposing instrument An instrument which is notated in the same key on paper that it sounds when played.
- nona
See ninth.
- None
See ninth.
- nonet A composition for nine instruments.
- noot
See note.
- nootwaarde
See duration.
- nopeasti
See allegro.
- not
See note.
- nota
See note.
- nota con puntillo
See dotted note.
- nota puntata
See dotted note.
- notas guía
See cue-notes.
- note A notational symbol used to represent the duration of a sound and, when placed on a music staff, to also indicate the pitch of the sound.
- note pointée
See dotted note.
- note value See duration.
- Notenschlüssel
See clef.
- Notensystem
See system.
- Notenwert
See duration.
- Notenzeiger
See custos.
- Notenzeile
See staff.
- notine
See cue-notes.
- notsystem
See staff.
- notturno
See nocturne.
- notvärde
See duration.
- novena
See ninth.
- nøgle
See clef.
- nuance
See dynamics.
- nuotti
See note.
- nuottiavain
See clef.
- nuottijärjestelmä
See system.
- nuottiviivasto
See staff.