Glossary of Musical Terms
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Glossary of Musical Terms In my music studies, I have often found it frustrating not knowing the meaning of all the words on the page. Many composers make very specific indications, and seldom are those indications in English. What follows is a fairly long list of musical definitions and descriptions gleaned primarily from multiple Internet searches (utilizing available translation services). I also used a few book sources, mostly for purposes of corroboration. A vast majority of this glossary relates most directly to trumpet and brass literature. These are words and phrases which I have found in solo and orchestral literature, as well as in etude books and other music texts. Though it is geared towards trumpet players, I believe it might be useful to any musician. Please note that, while this listing has in excess of 1,200 entries, it is by no means an exhaustive list. Any serious student of music should own a copye of th Harvard Dictionary of Music (Belknap Press of the Harvard University Press). This book goes far beyond being just a simple glossary of terms. It is really an encyclopedia, encompassing a wide range of musical topics, and I find it interesting just to read a few articles once in a while. Beyond the dictionary entries, ethere ar articles on important composers and important individual pieces, entries on widely varying musical styles, music theory and general music history. The information is very well‐researched and each entry more‐than‐adequately covers the major aspects of each topic. The book is available in many places and currently sellsr fo approximately $40.00. Table of Contents A – Angosciosamente 1 Ängstlich – BMI 2 Bol – Con sordina 3 Cor – En 4 En dehors – Fort 5 Forte – Grandezza 6 Grandioso ‐ Le Poème de lʹextase 7 Le Sacre du Printemps – Melancolico 8 Meno – Oktett 9 Omaggio – Pp 10 Précédente – Sanft 11 Sans – Slargando 12 Slentando – Taktmesser 13 Taktstrich – Unis. 14 Unison – Zunge 15 Appendices Pitch Names Appendix A Clef Appendix B Glossary of Musical Terms page 1 A [It.]: Article meaning to, at, for, in, in the style of, Agité [Fr.]: Agitated. per. Ähnlich [Ger.]: Similar, alike. À [Fr.]: Article meaning to, at, for, in, in the style of, Airietta [It.]: A short aria. per. Aisé [Fr.]: With ease. A beneplacito [It.]: At the performerʹs pleasure. Al [It.]: To the, at the; or in the manner of. A capella [It.]: Performed without instrumental Al [It.]: To the, at the. accompaniment. Alla [It.]: To the, at ethe; in th manner of. A due [It.]: (or a2) Intended as a duet; foro tw voices Alla breve [It.]: At the breve; cut time. or instruments. Allant [Fr.]: Going, stirring, continuing; andante. À la [Fr.]: To the, at the; or in the manner of. Allargando [It.]: Broadening, becoming slower; A piacere [It.]: At the perfomerʹs pleasure. sometimes accompanied with increased volume. A tempo [It.]: Return to original tempo after some Alle [Ger.]: All. deviation from it. Alle menschen muessen sterben [Ger.]: All people À volonté [Fr.]: At the performer’s pleasure. must die; Bach chorale reference in Hindemithʹs a2 [It.]: (or a due) Intended as a duet; for two voices ʺSonataʺ for Trumpet and Piano. or instruments. Allegramente [It.]: Merry, lively; fast. Ab [Ger.]: Off, as with a mute. Allegretto [It.]: Slightly slower than allegro. Abandonné [Fr.]: With abandon, without restraint. Allegrissimo [It.]: Very fast, but slightly slower than Abbandonatamente [It.]: With abandon, without Presto. restraint. Allegro [It.]: (allo) Merry, lively; fast. Abbellimento [It.]: Ornament. Allein [Ger.]: Alone. Aber [It.]: But. Allentamente [It.]: Slowing down. Abnehmend [Ger.]: (dim.) Decreasing in volume. Allentando [It.]: Slowing down. Absetzen [Ger.]: Seperated, articulated. Allmählich [Ger.]: Gradually, little by little. Abtossen [Ger.]: Detached. Als [Ger.]: Than. Accarezzévole [It.]: Expressive and caring; sweetly. Also sprach Zarathustra [Ger.]: ʺThus Spake Accelerando [It.]: (accel.) Becoming faster; faster. Zarathustra;ʺ major orchestral work (tone poem) Accelerato [It.]: (accel.) Becoming faster; faster. by Richard Strauss, inspired by the book of the Accentato [It.]: Marked, stressed, emphasized. same name by Friedrich Nietzsche. Accompagnato [It.]: Accompanied. Altissimo [It.]: Very high. Accusé [Fr.]: Marked, stressed, emphasized. Alto [It.]: High; usually refers to a particular voice Ad libitum [Lat.]: At the performer’s pleasure; part, higher than tenor, but lower than soprano. sometimes means a passage may be omitted. Am [Ger.]: At the, at that. Adagietto [It.]: Slightly faster tempo than adagio; Amabile [It.]: Amiable, likeable. slow tempo, but less somber than adagio. Amarevole [It.]: Bitter or bitterly. Adagio [It.]: Slow tempo. Amaro [It.]: Bitter or bitterly. Adagissimo [It.]: Extremely slow tempo. Amore [It.]: Love, lovingly. Addolorato [It.]: Pained, afflicted. Amorevole [It.]: Love, lovingly. Affabile [It.]: Affable, pleasant. Amoroso [It.]: Love, lovingly. Affannato [It.]: Anguished. Anacrusis [Lat.]: A note or group of notes which Affannoso [It.]: Anguished. precede the first full measure; slso known as a Affectueusement [Fr.]: Affectionate. ʺpickup note.ʺ Affettuoso [It.]: (also Affetuosamente) Affectionate. Ancora [It.]: Still, more. Affretanrdo [It.]: Hurrying. Andacht [Ger.]: Devotion, devoutly. Agevole [It.]: Easy, unrestricted. Andächtig [Ger.]: Devotion, devoutly. Aggradevole [It.]: Pleasing. Andante [It.]: Walking; moderately slow. Agiatamente [It.]: Sedate, with ease. Andantino [It.]: Slightly faster than andante. Agiato [It.]: Sedate, with ease. Anfang [Ger.]: Beginning. Agile [It.]: Agile. Angenehm [Ger.]: Pleasant, pleasantly. Agilmente [It.]: Agile. Anglaise [Fr.]: English. Agitato [It.]: Agitated. Angosciosamente [It.]: Anguished. Glossary of Musical Terms page 2 Ängstlich [It.]: Anxious, anxiously. Avec [Fr.]: With, together with. Animando [It.]: Animating, becoming animated, Avoir [Fr.]: Own, have. animated; indicates speeding up. Barbaro [It.]: Barbarous; barbaric. Animandosi [It.]: Animating, becoming animated, Barcarola [It.]: Song, often in 6/8 or 12/8 time, animated; indicates speeding up. originating in Venice, Italy. Animato [It.]: Animating, becoming animated, Barcarole [En.]: Song, often in 6/8 or 12/8 time, animated; indicates speeding up. originating in Venice, Italy. Animato [It.]: Animated, lively. Barcarolle [Fr.]: Song, often in 6/8 or 12/8 time, Animé [Fr.]: Animated; moderately fast tempo. originating in Venice, Italy. Animez [Fr.]: Animate, bring to life. Bass [En.]: The lowest of the four standard voice Animo [It.]: Spirit, spirited. ranges (soprano, alto, tenor, bass); the lowest Animoso [It.]: Spirit, spirited. melodic line in a musical composition, Anmutig [Ger.]: Graceful, gracefully. definining and supporting the harmony. Anschwellend [Ger.]: Increasing in volume, louder. Basso [It.]: Low, bass; the lowest of the four Anwachsend [Ger.]: Growing, swelling, increasing. standard voice ranges (soprano, alto, tenor, Apaisé [Fr.]: Calm, calmed. bass); the lowest melodic line in a musical Appasionato [It.]: Impassioned. composition, definining and supportinge th Appena [It.]: Scarcely. harmony. Appoggiatora [It.]: A disonant pitch on a stronger Basso continuo [It.]: Continuous bass; bass part beat resolving up or down to a consonant pitch played throughout a piece to defining and on a weaker beat. supporting harmonic structure, used primarily Appuyé [Fr.]: Accented, accentuated. in music of the Baroque period . Ardimente [It.]: Boldly. Bedächtig [Ger.]: Deliberate, slow. Ardito [It.]: Boldly. Behende [Ger.]: Agile, quick. Aria [It.]: Air; an expressive song, usually performed Beklemmt [Ger.]: Anxious, oppressed. by a singer. Belebend [Ger.]: Lively, animated. Arioso [It.]: Airy, like an air; melodious; in the Belebt [Ger.]: Lively, animated. manner of an aria. Bellicoso [It.]: Bellicose, pugnacious; warlike in Armonioso [It.]: Harmoniously. manner. Arpeggio [It.]: To play on the harp; a broken chord Ben [It.]: Well. where the notes are played or sung in sequence Bene [It.]: Well. (as a harp), one after the other, rather than Beruhigend [Ger.]: Calm, calming. simultaneously as a chord. Beruhigt [Ger.]: Calm, calming. Arriver [Fr.]: Arrive. Beschleunigend [Ger.]: Speeding up. ASCAP : Abbreviated for American Society of Beschleunigt [Ger.]: Speeding up. Composers, Authors and Publishers. Bestimmt [Ger.]: Decisive, decisively. Assai [It.]: Much, very much. Betont [Ger.]: Accented, stressed. Assez [It.]: Sufficiently, rather. Beweglich [Ger.]: Nimble, nimbly, agile. Atem [Ger.]: Breath. Bewegt [Ger.]: Agitated. Atempause [Ger.]: Breathing pause. Bien [Fr.]: Fine, good, well. Attacca [It.]: Attack, attack immediately; move to the Binary [Lat.]: Consistingo of tw parts; in music, a next movement immediately. form consisting of two parts: AB. Attacca subito [It.]: Attack suddenly, attack Bis [Lat.]: Twice; repeat the relevant action of immediately; move to the next movement passage. immediately. Blasinstrument [Ger.]: Wind instrument. Auf [Ger.]: Up. Blasmusik [Ger.]: Music for wind instruments. Aufgeregt [Ger.]: Excited, energetic. Blech [Ger.]: Brass instruments. Ausdruck [Ger.]: Expression. Blechinstrumente [Ger.]: Brass instruments. Ausdrucksvoll [Ger.]: Expression; expressively. Blechmusik [Ger.]: Music for brass instruments. Aushalten [Ger.]: To sustain, hold. BMI : Abbreviation for Broadcast Music Äusserst [Ger.]: Extremely, much, very. Incorporated. Glossary of Musical Terms page 3 Bol [Fr.]: Bowl; often refers to cup mute. Cesura [Sp.]: Pause. Bolero [Sp.]: