Free Music Glossary

Z

• Z See Zimmerman numbers.
• zart Tender, delicate.
• zarzuela A Spanish lyric-dramatic genre that alternates between spoken and sung scenes, the latter incorporating operatic and popular song, as well as dance.
• Zäsur See caesura.
• zeloso Zealous, keen, earnest.
• zestiende noot See sixteenth note.
• Zimmerman numbers The numbering system identifying compositions by Henry Purcell.
• zin See phrase.
• Zirkularatmung See circular breathing.
• zu “Too” (excessively).
• zu Shown as zu2, zu3, etc., it is a directive to indicate the number of musicians to perform the indicated passage of music.
• Zungenstoss Tongue thrust.
• zurückhaltung See ritardando.
• zusammen Literally, “together”. A directive to perform a certain passage of music together with other musicians in the section. Typically found after a divisi.
• Zusammenklang See harmony.
• Zusammenschlag See acciaccatura.
• Zweiunddreissigstel See thirty-second note.
• Zweiunddreissigstelnote See thirty-second note.
• Zwischenspiel An interlude played between the verses of a hymn.