background preloader

Glossary of Musical Terms

Glossary of Musical Terms

Glossary of musical terminology This is a list of musical terms that are likely to be encountered in printed scores, music reviews, and program notes. Most of the terms are Italian (see also Italian musical terms used in English), in accordance with the Italian origins of many European musical conventions. Sometimes, the special musical meanings of these phrases differ from the original or current Italian meanings. Most of the other terms are taken from French and German, indicated by "(Fr)" and "(Ger)", respectively. Others are from languages such as Portuguese, Latin, and Spanish. Unless specified, the terms are Italian or English. A[edit] B[edit] C[edit] D[edit] E[edit] F[edit] G[edit] H[edit] I[edit] J[edit] K[edit] keyboardist (Eng) : a musician who plays any instrument with a keyboard. L[edit] M[edit] N[edit] nach und nach (Ger) lit. O[edit] P[edit] Q[edit] R[edit] S[edit] T[edit] U[edit] V[edit] W[edit] wenig (Ger): a little, not muchwolno (Polish): loose, slowly Z[edit] See also[edit] References[edit] External links[edit]

Music Terminology Music Terminology In cultures across the world and through time, spanning all different age groups, music has always been an intrinsic part of human life. When discussing music, whether in a casual or in-depth manner, it always helps to be able to speak about it knowledgeably. There are various terms that can convey a more precise meaning about a certain aspect of music, but many of these terms tend to be somewhat technical. Many of the words also tend to be in Italian or French, which adds to the confusion. To get a grasp of music terminology, have a look below at the most important and useful terms to know. Allegro – An Italian word referring to a quick and lively tempo. Ballad – Typically a folk song, or a piece of music written to imitate such a song. Baritone – A male voice positioned in the middle of the choir’s range. Baroque – Music ranging from the 1600s to around 1750 is generally described as belonging to the baroque era. Crescendo – A gradual increase in volume of the music.

Elements of Music Elements of Music: Sounds may be perceived as pleasant or unpleasant. What are these sounds that we hear? -Sound begins with the vibration of an object, such as a table that is pounded or a string that is plucked. -The vibrations are transmitted to our ears by a medium, which is usually air -As a result of the vibrations, our eardrums start vibrating too, and impulses, or signals, are transmitted to the brain. -Music is part of this world of sound, an art based on the organization of sounds in time. Properties of musical sounds: -We distinguish music from other sounds by recognizing the four main properties of musical sounds: pitch, dynamics (loudness or softness), tone color, and duration. Duration: the length of time a musical sound lasts Pitch is the relative highness or lowness that we hear in a sound -The pitch of a sound is determined by the frequency of its vibrations. -The faster the vibrations, the higher the pitch; the slower the vibrations, the lower the pitch. Tone Color The Triad

Related: