Free 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.