1

I - Italian
F - Fren h
D - German
NL - Nederlands
UK - British English
DK - Danish
S - Swedish
N - Norwegian

A referen e is indi ated by ) followed by the term in boldfa e.

A I: la, F: la, D: A, a, NL: a, DK: a, S: a, N: a.
a ent I: a ento, F: a ent, D: Akzent, NL: a ent, DK: a ent, S: a ent, N:
The stress of one tone over others.
a idental I: alterazione, a idente, F: alteration a identelle, D: Vorzei hen,
Versetzungszei hen, NL: voorteken, DK: lst fortegn, S: tillfalligt forte ken, N:
)
A sharp raises a tone by a semitone, a double sharp raises it by a whole )
tone, a at lowers it by a semitone and a double at lowers it by a whole tone.
A natural an els the ee t of a previous a idental.

V ! ! ! ! !
sharp db. sharp at db. at natural

a elerando
I: a elerando, F: a elerando, en a elerant, D: a elerando, S hneller, NL:
a elerando, DK: a elerando, S: a elerando, N:
Still faster tempo.
adagio I: adagio, F: adagio, lent, D: Adagio, Langsam, NL: adagio, DK: adagio, S:
adagio, N: adagio.
It. omfortable, easy. 1. Slow tempo, slower - espe ially in even meter - than
) )
andante and faster than largo. 2. A movement in slow tempo, esepe ially
)
the s ond (slow) movement of sonatas, symphonies et .
allegro I: allegro, F: allegro, D: Allegro, S hnell, Frohli h, Lustig, NL: allegro, DK:
allegro, S: allegro, N: allegro.
It. heerful. Qui k tempo. Also used as a title for pie es in a qui k tempo,
)
espe ially the rst and last movements of a sonata.
alto I: ontralto, F: alto, D: Alt, NL: alt, DK: alt, S: alt, N: alt.
A female voi e of low range ( ontralto ). Originally the alto was a high male
voi e (hen e the name) whi h by the use of falsetto rea hed the height of the
)
female voi e. This type of voi e is also known as ounter tenor.
2

alto lef I: hiave di ontralto, F: lef d'ut troisieme ligne, D: Alts hlussel, Brats hen-
s hlussel, NL: alt sleutel, DK: altngle, S: altklav, N:
C lef setting entral C on the middle line of the sta C lef )
an ient minor s ale
I: s ala minore naturale, F: forme du mode mineur an ien, troiseme mode, mode
hellenique D: reines Moll, NL: , DK: ren mol, S: ren mollskala, N: .
! ! !
! ! !
V ! !

andante I: andante, F: andante, D: Andante, NL: andante, DK: andante, S: andante, N:

andante.
walking tempo/ hara ter
appoggiatura
I: appoggiatura, F: appogiature, (port de voix), D: Vors hlag, NL: voorslag,
DK: forslag, S: forslag, N:
Ornamental note, usually a se ond, that is melodi ally onne ted with the main
note that follows it. In musi before the 19'th entury a. were usually performed
on the beat, after that mostly before the beat. While the short a. is performed
as a short note regardless of the duration of the main note the duration of the
long a. is proportionate to that of the main note.
L
I L
I

 #
# # ## #
 # # # # # # # # # # # # # #
V
 4 ##  ## 
4
notation performan e

An appoggiatura may have more notes pre eding the main note.
L
I L
I

V  2 # # ### # # #
## # #
## # # ### # # # ##  # # ## 
4
notation performan e

arpeggio I: arpeggio, F: arpege, D: Arpeggio, Akkordbre hungen, gebro hener Akkord,

NL: gebroken akoord, DK: arpeggio, akkordbrydning, S: arpeggio, N:
# # # # # # # #
V 4  ## ##  ## ##  ## ##  ## ##
4

H H H H
 "#
"# # # "# # "# #
T 4
4

as ending interval
I: intervallo as endente, F: intervalle as endant, D: steigendes Intervall, NL:
stijgend interval, DK: stigende interval, S: stigande intervall, N:
 3

A distan e between a starting lower note and a higher ending note.

augmented interval
I: intervallo aumentato, F: intervalle augmente, D: ubermaiges Intervall, NL:
overmatig interval, DK: forstrret interval, S: overstigande intervall, N:
)interval
autograph I: autografo, F: manus rit, D: Autograph, Hands hrift, NL: , DK: h andskrift,
autograf, S: handskrift, N: .
1. A manus ript in the omposer's own hand. 2. Musi prepared for photore-
produ tion by freehand drawing, with only the aid of a straightedge ruler and
T-square, whi h attempts to emulate engraving. This required more skill than
did engraving.
B I: si, F: si, D: H, h, NL: b, DK: h, S: h, N: h.
ba kfall; forefall
) appoggiatura
bar line I: stanghetta, barra (di divisione), F: barre (de mesure), D: Taktstri h, NL:
maatstreep, DK: taktstreg, S: taktstre k, N:
bar ) measure
baritone I: baritono, F: bariton, D: Bariton, NL: bariton, DK: baryton, S: baryton, N:
baryton.
)
The male voi e intermediate between the bass and the tenor. )
baritone lef
I: hiave di baritono, F: lef de ut inquieme ligne, lef de troisieme ligne, D:
Barytons hlussel, NL: baritonsleutel, DK: barytonngle, S: barytonklav, N: .
C or F lef setting entral C on the upper sta line. )
lef f lef )
bass lef I: hiave di basso, F: le de fa quatrieme ligne, D: Bass-S hlussel, NL: bassleutel,
DK: basngle, S: basklav, N:
A lef setting with entral C on the rst top ledger line. )f lef
bass I: basso, F: basse, D: Bass, NL: bas, DK: bas, S: bas, N: bas.
1. The lowest of men's voi es. 2. Sometimes, espe ially in jazz musi , used as
)
an abbreviation for double bass strings.
beam I: oda, F: barre, D: Balken, NL: waardestreep, DK: bjlke, S: balk, N:
Line onne ting a series of notes (shorter than a quarter note). The number of
beams determine the note value of the onne ted notes.

V # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #
1/8 1/16 1/32 1/64

beat I: tempi, F: temps, D: Takts hlag, Zeit (im Takt), NL: tel, DK: (takt)slag, S:
taktslag, N:
4

Note value used for ounting, most often half-, fourth- and eighth notes. The
base ounting value and the number of them per measure is indi ated at the
start of the musi .
 ## ##
V 4 # # # # ! 3 # # #
4 8

bind ) tie
bra e I: graa, F: a olade, D: Klammer, Klavierklammer, Akkolade, Chorklammer,
NL: a olade, teksthaak, DK: klamme, S: klammer, N:
Symbol at the start of a system onne ting stas. Curly bra es are used for
onne ting piano staves, angular bra kets for onne ting parts in an or hestral
or horal s ore.

V # #

"
T
!

V # #
"
T !

brass I: ottoni, D: Ble hblaser, NL: koper (blazers), F: uivres, DK: messingblsere,
S: brassinstrument, massingsinstrument, N:
A family of blown musi al instruments made of brass all using a up formed
mouth pie e. The brass instruments ommonly used in a symphony or hestra
are trumpet, trombone, fren h horn and tube.
breath mark
I: respiro, F: respiration, D: Atemzei hen, Trennungszei hen, NL: reper ussi-
eteken, DK: vejrtrkningstegn, S: andningste ken, N: .
Indi ation of where to breathe in vo al and wind instrument parts.
breve I: breve, F: breve, D: Brevis, NL: brevis, DK: brevis, S: brevis, N:
) Note value twi e as long as a whole note. Mainly used in pre-1650 musi .

C I: do, F: ut, D: C, , NL: , DK: , S: , N:

 5

C lef I: hiave di do, F: le d'ut, D: C-S hlussel, NL: C-sleutel, DK: -ngle, S: -klav,
N:
Clef symbol indi ating the position of the entral C. Used on all note lines.

R ! R !
R ! R !
R !
Soprano Mezzosoprano Alto Tenor Baritone

aden e I: adenza, F: aden e, D: Kadenz, NL: adens, DK: kaden e, S: kadens, N: .

) )
harmoni aden e fun tional harmony
adenza I: adenza, F: aden e, D: Kadenz, NL: adens, DK: kaden e, S: kadens, N: .
An extended, improvisatory style se tion inserted near the end of movement.
The purpose of a adenza is to give the singer or player a han e to exhibit
her te hni hal skill and not the least her ability to improvise. Sin e the middle
of the 19'th entury, however, most aden es have been written down by the
omposer.
anon I: anone, F: anon, D: Kanon, NL: anon, DK: kanon, S: kanon, N: .
) ounterpoint
ent I: ent, F: ent, D: Cent, NL: ent, DK: ent, S: ent, N: .
Logarithmi unit of measurement. 1 ent is 1/1200 of an o tave (1/100 of an
)
equally tempered semitone) equal temperament )
entral C ) middle C
hord I: a ordo, F: a ord, D: Akkord, NL: akkoord, DK: akkord, S: a kord, N: .
Three or more tones sounding simultaneously. In traditional European musi
the base hord is a triad onsisting of 2 thirds. Major (major + minor third) )
as well as minor (minor + major third) hords may be extended with more
thirds. Four- seventh hords and ve tone ninth major hords are most often
)
used as dominants ( fun tional harmony). A spe ial ase is hords having
no third above the lower notes to dene their quality as major or minor. Su h
hords are denoted open hords
! !

!
4 !
! !
! !
! !
! !
! !
!
V 4 ! ! ! ! ! !
major minor dimished augmented seventh- hord ninth- hord

hromati s ale
I: s ala romati a, F: gamme hromatique, D: Chromatis he Tonleiter, NL:
hromatis he toonladder, DK: kromatisk skala, S: kromatisk skala, N: .
A s ale onsisting of all 11 semitones. )
! ! ! !
V ! ! ! ! !
!
  !
 ! !
6

hromati ism
I: romatismo, F: hromatisme, D: Chromatik, NL: hromatiek, DK: kromatik,
S: kromatik, N:
)
Use of tones extraneous to a diatoni s ale (minor, major).
hur h mode; e lesiasti al mode
I: modo e lesiasti o, F: mode e lesiastique, D: Kir hentonart, NL: kerktoon-
ladder, DK: kirketoneart, S: kyrkotonart, N:
)diatoni s ale
lef I: hiave, F: le, lef, D: S hlussel, S hlussel, Notens hlussel, NL: sleutel, DK:
ngle, S: klav, N:
) ) )
lef f lef g lef
omma I: omma, F: omma, D: Komma, NL: komma, DK: komma, S: komma, N:
Dieren e in pit h between a note derived from pure tuning and the same note
derived from some other tuning method. )
temperament
ommon meter
) meter
ompound interval
I: intervallo omposto, F: intervalle ompose, D: Weites Intervall(?), NL:
samengesteld interval, DK: sammensat interval, S: sammansatt intervall, N: .
Intervals larger than an o tave
)
interval
omplement
I: rivolto, F: intervalle omplementaire, D: Komplementarintervall, NL: om-
plementair interval, DK: komplementrinterval, S: komplementarintervall (?),
N:
)inverted interval
onjun t movement
I: moto ongiunto, F: mouvement onjoint, D: s hrittweise/stufenweise Bewe-
gung, NL: , DK: trinvis bevgelse, S: stegvis rorelse, N:
Melody moving in the narrow steps of the s ale;

V 4 # # # # " " # # # # !
4

onsonan e
I: onsonanza, F: onsonan e, D: Konsonanz, NL: onsonant, DK: konsonans,
S: konsonans, N:
) harmony
ontralto I: ontralto, F: ontralto, D: Alt, NL: ontralto, DK: alt, S: alt, N:
) alto
 7

ounterpoint
I: ontrappunto, F: ontrepoint, D: Kontrapunkt, NL: ontrapunt, DK: kontra-
punkt, S: kontrapunkt, N: .
From latin pun tus ontra pun tum, note against note. The ombination into a
single musi al fabri of lines or parts whi h have distin t melodi signi an e.
A frequently used polyphoni te hnique is imitation, in its stri test form found
in the anon needing only one part to be written down while the other parts
are performed with a given displa ement. Imitation is also the ontrapuntal
te hnique used in the fugue whi h, sin e the musi of the baroque era, has been
one of the most popular polyphoni omposition methods.

H

V  Y  # #
# #

# # # # # # #
## ## #
 # 
 H H
# # #  # #
T     #  # #  # # # # # # #  ### ## # # #
 #
 
 Y

ounter tenor
I: ontrotenore, F: ontre-tenor, D: Kontratenor, NL: ontratenor, DK: kon-
tratenor, S: kontratenor, ounter tenor, N: kontratenor
)
ontralto
Copying, Musi
A musi opyist did fast freehand s ores and parts on preprinted sta lines for
performan e. Some of their onventions (e.g.: the pla ement of noteheads on
stems) varied slightly from those of engravers. Some of their working methods
were superior and ould well be adopted by musi typesetters. This required
more skill than engraving.
res endo I: res endo, F: res endo, D: Cres endo, Lauter, NL: res endo, DK: res endo,
S: res endo, N: res endo.
In reasing volume. Indi ated by a rightwards opening horizontal wedge or the
abbreviation " res .".
 !
V 4 # # #
#
4

ue-notes I: notine, F: petites notes pre edent l'entree d'in instrument, replique, D: Sti h-
noten, NL: sti hnoten, DK: stiknoder, S: inpri kningar, N:
In a separate part notes belonging to another part with the purpose of hinting
when to start playing. Usually printed in a smaller type.
D I: re, F: re, D: D, d, NL: d, DK: d, S: d, N: d
da apo I: da apo, F: da apo, depuis le ommen ement, D: da apo, von Anfang, NL:
da apo, DK: da apo, S: da apo, N: .
8

The term indi ates repetition of the pie e from the beginning to the end or to
a ertain pla e marked ne. Mostly abbreviated D.C.
dal segno I: dal segno, F: dal segno, depuis le signe, D: dal segno, NL: dal segno, DK: dal
segno, S: dal segno, N: .
abbreviated d.s. Repetition, not from the beginning, but from another pla e
frequently near the beginning marked by a sign:
?
 !
V 4 # # #
# # # "
4
d.s.

de res endo
I: de res endo, D: De res endo, Leiser, NL: de res endo, DK: de res endo, S:
de res endo, N: de res endo
De reasing tone volume. Indi ated by a leftwards opening horizontal wedge or
the abbreviation "de res .".
 # # #
V 4 # !
4

des ending interval

I: intervallo dis endente, F: intervalle des endant, D: fallendes Intervall, ab-
steigendes Intervall, NL: dalend interval, DK: faldende interval, S: fallande in-
tervall, N:
An distan e between a starting higher note and a lower ending note.
diatoni s ale
I: s ala diatoni a, F: gamme diatonique, D: diatonis he Tonleiter, NL: diatonis-
he toonladder, DK: diatonisk skala, S: diatonisk skala, N:
) )
A s ale onsisting of 5 whole tones and 2 semitones (S). S ales played on
the white keys of a piano keybord are diatoni .
The hur h modes are used in gregorial hant and pre baroque early musi but
also to some extent in newer jazz musi .

! !S !
V
!
 ! !S ! !
Ionian

! !S ! !
V
! !S ! !
Dorian

!
V !S ! ! ! !S ! !

Phrygian
 9
!S !
V ! ! ! !S ! !

Lydian

!S ! !
V ! ! !S ! !

Mixolydian

! !
!S !
V ! !S ! !

Aeolian

From the beginning of the 17th entury the s ales used in European ompo-
sitional musi are primarily the major and the minor s ales. In the harmoni
minor s ale type an augmented se ond (A) o urs between the 6th and 7th
tone.
! !S !
V
!
 ! !S ! !
Major

! !
!S !
V ! !S ! !

an ient minor

S
! S  ! A ! !
V ! !S ! !

Harmoni minor

! !  ! S !  ! ! S !
V ! !S ! ! ! !S ! !
Melodi minor

diminished interval
I: intervallo diminuito, F: intervalle diminue, D: vermindertes Intervall, NL:
verminderd interval, DK: formindsket interval, S: forminskat intervall, N: .
) interval
diminuendo
I: diminuendo, F: diminuendo, D: Diminuendo, NL: diminuendo, DK: diminu-
endo, S: diminuendo, N: diminuendo.
) de res endo
disjun t movement
I: moto disgiunto, F: mouvement disjoint, D: sprunghafte Bewegung, NL: , DK:
springende bevgelse, S: sprangvis rorelse, N:
)
Melody moving in steps greater than those of the s ale. Opposite of onjun t
movement.
 H H
V  4 # # # # #
4 # # " #
10

dissonant interval; dissonan e

I: intervallo dissonante, dissonanza, F: dissonan e, D: Dissonanz, NL: dissonant
interval; dissonant, DK: dissonerende interval, dissonans, S: dissonans, N: .
) harmony
dominant ninth hord
I: a ordo di nona di dominante, F: a ord de neuvieme dominante, D: Dom-
inantnoneakkord, NL: dominant noon akkoord, DK: dominantnoneakkord, S:
dominantnona kord, N: .
) )
hord fun tional harmony
dominant seventh hord
I: a ordo di settima di dominante, F: a ord de septieme dominante, D: Dom-
inantseptakkord, NL: dominant septiem akkoord, DK: dominantseptimakkord,
S: dominantseptima kord, N:
) )
hord fun tional harmony
dominant I: dominante, F: dominante, D: Dominante, NL: dominant, DK: dominant, S:
dominant, N: .
) )
The fth s ale degree fun tional harmony
dorian mode
I: modo dori o, F: mode dorien, D: Doris her Kir henton, NL: doris he toon-
ladder, doris her Kir henton, DK: dorisk skala, S: dorisk tonart, N:
) diatoni s ale
dot (augmentation dot)
I: punto (di valore), F: point, D: Punkt (Verlangerungspunkt), NL: punt, DK:
punkt, S: punkt, N:
) dotted note
dotted note
I: nota puntata, F: note pointee, D: punktierte Note, NL: gepun teerde noot,
DK: punkteret node, S: punkterad not, N:
) note value
double appoggiatura
I: appoggiatura doppia, F: appoggiature double, D: doppelter Vors hlag, NL:
dubbele voorslag, DK: dobbelt forslag, S: dubbelslag, N:
) appoggiatura
double bar line
I: doppia barra, F: double barre, D: Doppelstri h, NL: dubbele maatstreep, DK:
dobbeltstreg, S: dubbelstre k, N: .
Indi ates the end of a se tion within a movement.
double dotted note
I: nota doppiamente puntata, F: note doublement pointee, D: doppel-punktierte
Note, NL: dubbelgepun teerde noot, DK: dobbeltpunkteret node, S: dubbel-
punkterad not, N: .
) note value
 11

double at
I: doppio bemolle, F: double bemol, D: Doppel-B, NL: dubbelmol, DK: dob-
belt-b, S: dubbelbe, N: .
) a idental
double sharp
I: doppio diesis, F: double diese, D: Doppelkreuz, NL: dubbelkruis, DK: dob-
beltkryds, S: dubbelkors, N: .
)
a idental
double trill
I: doppio trillo, F: trille double, D: Doppeltriller, NL: dubbele triller, DK:
dobbelttrille, S: dubbeldrill, N: .
A simultaneous trill on two notes, usually in the distan e of a third.
duple meter
I: tempo binario, F: temps binaire, D: zweiteiliger Takt, NL: tweedelige maat-
soort, DK: todelt takt, S: tv
atakt, N: .
)
meter
duplet I: duina, F: duolet, D: Duole, NL: duool, DK: duol, S: duol, N: .
) note value
duration I: durata, F: duree, D: Dauer, Lange, NL: duur, lengte, DK: varighed, S:
tonlangd, N: .
) note value
dydimi omma
)
syntoni omma
E I: mi, F: mi, D: E, e, NL: e, DK: e, S: e, N: e.
eighth note
I: roma, F: ro he, UK: quaver, D: A htel, A htelnote, NL: a htste noot, DK:
ottendedelsnode, S: attondelsnot, N: .
) note value
eighth rest
I: pausa di roma, F: demi-soupir, UK: quaver rest, D: A htelpause, NL: a htste
rust, DK: ottendedelspause, S: 
attonddelspaus, N: .
) note value
engraving I: in isione, F: gravure, D: Notenste hen, NL: steken, DK: nodestik, S: nottry k,
N: .
Engraving means in ising or et hing a metal plate for printing. Photoengraving
means drawing musi with ink in a manner similar to drafting or engineering
drawing, using similar tools.
The traditional pro ess of musi printing is done through utting in a plate of
metal. Now also the term for the art of musi typesetting.
12

enharmoni
I: enarmoni o, F: enharmonique, D: enharmonis h, NL: enharmonis h, DK:
enharmonisk, S: enharmonisk, N: .
Two notes, intervals, or s ales are enharmoni if they have dierent names but
equal pit h.

! ! !
V ! ! !
g sharp a at dim fth augm fourth

equal temperament
I: temperamento equabile, F: temperament egal, D: glei hs hwebende
Stimmung, NL: gelijkzwevende temperatuur, DK: ligesvvende temperatur, S:
liksvavande temperatur, N: .
Tuning system dividing the o tave into 12 equal )semitones (pre isely 100
) ents). )
temperament
expression mark
I: segno d'espressione, F: signe d'expression, indi ation de nuan e, D:
Vortragszei hen, NL: voordra htsteken, DK: foredragsbetegnelse, S:
foredragsbete kning, N: .
Performan e indi ations on erning 1. volume, dynami s (for example forte, )
) )
res endo), 2. tempo (for example andante, allegro) )
F I: fa, F: fa, D: F, f, NL: f, DK: f, S: f, N: f.
F lef I: hiave di fa, F: le de fa, D: F-S hlussel, NL: F-sleutel, DK: F-ngle, S: f-klav,
N: .
The position between the dots of the key symbol is the line of the F below
entral C. Used on the third, fourth and fth note line. A digit 8 above the lef
symbol indi ates that the notes must be played an o tave higher (for example
bass re order) while 8 below the lef symbol indi ates playing an o tave lower
)
(for example on double bass strings).

T ! T ! T ! T8 ! T !
8
baritone bass sub-bass o taved up o taved down

fermata I: orona, F: pause, D: Fermate, NL: fermate, DK: fermat, S: fermat, N: .

Prolonged note or rest of indenite duration.
(
V 4 # # "
4

fth I: quinta, F: quinte, D: Quinte, NL: kwint, DK: kvint, S: kvint, N: kvint.
) interval
 13

gured bass
) thorough bass
ngering I: diteggiatura, F: doigte, D: Fingersatz, NL: vingerzetting, DK: ngerstning,
S: ngersattning, N: .
The methodi al use of ngers in the playing of instruments.
ag; pennant
I: oda (un inata), bandiera, F: ro het, D: Fahne, Fahn hen, NL: vlaggetje,
DK: fane, S: agga, N: .
Ornament at the end of the stem of a note used for notes with values less than
)
a quarter note. The number of ags determines the note value.
J K
H I
V # # # #
1/8 1/16 1/32 1/64

at I: bemolle, F: bemol, D: B, b, NL: mol, DK: b, S: beforte ken, N: .

) a idental
forefall; ba kfall
) appoggiatura
forte I: forte, F: forte, D: forte, Laut, NL: forte, DK: forte, S: forte, N: .
Loud, abbreviated f, fortissimo () very loud, mezzoforte (mf) medium loud.
fourth I: quarta, F: quarte, D: Quarte, NL: kwart, DK: kvart, S: kvart, N: .
) interval
fugue I: fuga, F: fugue, D: Fuge, NL: fuga, DK: fuga, S: fuga, N: .
) ounterpoint
fun tional harmony
I: armonia funzionale, F: etude des fun tions, D: Funktionslehre, NL: , DK:
funktionsanalyse, funktionsharmonik, S: funktionslara, N:
A system of harmoni analysis. It is based on the idea that, in a given key, there
are only three fun tionally dierent hords: toni (T, the hord on the rst note
of the s ale), subdominant (S, the hord on the fourth note) and dominant (D,
the hord on the fth note). Other are onsidered to be variants of the base
hords.

! ! !
! !
!
V ! ! !
! ! !
! ! !
! ! ! !
!

T
!
Sp Dp S D Tp Dj
G I: sol, F: sol, D: G, g, NL: g, DK: g, S: g, N: g.
G lef I: hiave di sol, F: le de sol, D: G-S hlussel, Violins hlussel, NL: G-sleutel, DK:
g-ngle, S: g-klav, N: .
14

A lef symbol indi ating the G above entral C. Used on the rst and se ond
note lines. A digit 8 above the lef symbol indi ates that the notes must be
played an o tave higher while 8 below the lef symbol indi ates playing or
singing an o tave lower (most tenor parts in horal s ores are notated like
that).
8
V ! V ! V ! V !
fren h violin lef violin lef o taved up 8 o taved down

glissando I: glissando, F: glissando, D: Glissando, NL: glissando, DK: glissando, S: glis-

sando, N: glissando.
Letting the pit h slide uently from one note to the other
gra e notes
I: abbellimenti, F: oriture, D: Verzierungen, Vors hlage, Vors hlagsnoten, NL:
versieringen, DK: forsiringer, S: ornament, N: .
Notes printed in small types to indi ate that their time values are not ounted
in the rhythm of the bar. ) appoggiatura
grand sta
I: a olatura, F: a olade, D: Akkolade, NL: piano systeem, DK: klaversystem,
S: a kolad, bojd klammer, N: .
)bra e
A ombination of two stas with a bra e. Usually used for piano musi .
grave I: grave, F: grave, D: grave, langsam, traurig, NL: , DK: grave, S: grave, N: .
Slow, solemn.
half note I: minima, F: blan he, UK: minim, D: Halbe, halbe Note, NL: halve noot, DK:
halvnode, S: halvnot, N: .
)note value
half rest I: pausa di minima, F: demi-pause, UK: minim rest, D: halbe Pause, NL: halve
rust, DK: halvnodespause, S: halvpaus, N: .
)note value
harmoni aden e
I: adenza (armoni a), F: aden e harmonique, D: S hlusskadenz, NL: har-
monis he adens, DK: harmonisk kaden e, S: (harmonisk) kadens, N: .
Sequen e of hords that terminate a musi al phrase or se tion. )fun tional
harmony

V 4 #
##
## # "
# ## ""

4
T 4 # "
4 # #
T S DT
 15

harmony I: armonia, F: harmonie, D: Harmonie, Zusammenklang, NL: harmonie, DK:

samklang, S: samklang, N:
Tones sounding simultaneously. Two note harmonies fall into the athegories
onsonan es and dissonan es.
Consonan es:
! !

! ! !
V !! !
! ! ! ! ! !
unisone third fourth fth sixth o tave de ime

Dissonan es:
! !

V !! ! !
se ond seventh ninth

Three note harmony ) hord

homophony
I: omofonia, F: homophonie, D: Homophonie, NL: homofonie, DK: homofoni,
S: homofoni, N: .
Musi in whi h one voi e leads melodi ally followed by the other voi es more
or less in the same rhythm. In ontrast to polyphony. )
interval I: intervallo, F: intervalle, D: Intervall, NL: interval, DK: interval, S: intervall,
N: .
Dieren e in pit h between two notes. Intervals may be perfe t, minor, major,
diminished or augmented. The augmented fourth and the diminished fth are
)
identi al ( enharmoni ) and is alled tritonus be ause it onsists of three
) whole tones. The addition of su h two forms an o tave.

minor major augm dimin minor major augm

V !!  !!  !!  !!  !
!  !
! !
! !
!
unisone se ond se ond se ond third third third third

perfe t augm perfe t dim major augm

! ! ! !  dimin
! minor
! ! !
V ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
fourth fourth fth fth sixth sixth sixth sixth

major minor major minor major

 dimin  minor ! !  ! !
 !

! ! !
V ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
seventh seventh seventh o tave none none de ime de ime
16

inverted interval
I: intervallo rivolto, F: intervalle renverse, D: umgekerhtes Intervall, NL: interval
inversie, DK: omvendingsinterval, S: intervallets omvandning, N: .
The dieren e between an interval and an o tave.
! ! !
V !! ! !
! ! !
!
!
se ond seventh third sixth fourth fth

just intonation
I: intonazione giusta, F: intonation juste, D: reine Stimmung, NL: reine stem-
ming, DK: ren stemning, S: ren stamning, N: .
Tuning system in whi h the notes are obtained by adding and subtra ting
natural fths and thirds. )
temperament
key I: tonalita, F: tonalite, D: Tonart, NL: toonsoort, DK: toneart, S: tonart, N: .
)
A ording to the 12 tones of the hromati s ale there are 12 keys, one on
, one on -sharp et . )
key signature
key signature
I: armatura di hiave, F: armure, armature [de la le℄, D: Vorzei hen, Tonart,
NL: toonsoort (voortekens), DK: faste fortegn, S: tonartssignatur, N: .
The sharps or ats appearing at the beginning of ea h sta indi ating the key
of the musi . )a idental
largo I: largo, F: largo, D: Largo, Langsam, Breit, NL: largo, DK: largo, S: largo, N:
largo
Very slow in tempo, usually ombined with great expressiveness. Larghetto less
slow than largo.
leading note
I: sensibile, F: note sensible, D: Leitton, NL: leidtoon, DK: ledetone, S: ledton,
N: .
) )
The seventh s ale degree, a semitone below the toni ; so alled be ause
of its strong tenden y to \lead up" (resolve upwards) to the toni s ale degree.
ledger line; leger line
I: tagli addizionali, F: ligne supplementaire, D: Hilfslinie, NL: hulplijntje, DK:
hjlpelinie, S: hjalplinje, N: .
A ledger line is an extension of the sta.
!


V

! 

legato I: legato, F: legato, lie, D: legato, NL: legato, DK: legato, S: legato, N: .
To be performed without any per eptible interruption between the notes (a)
)
unlike leggiero or non-legato (b), portato ( ) and sta ato (d)
 17

/ / , , , ,
# # # #/ # # #, # # #, # #
V
a b d

legato urve
) slur ) legato
lilypond I: stagno del giglio, F: etang de lis, UK: lily pond, D: Seerosentei h, NL: lelie-
vijver, DK: liliedam, S: liljedamm, N: .
A pond with lilies oating in it, also the name of a musi typesetter.
line I: linea, F: ligne, D: Linie, Notenlinie, NL: lijn, DK: nodelinie, S: notlinje, N: .
) sta
long appoggiatura
I: appoggiatura lunga, F: appoggiature longue, D: langer Vors hlag, DK: langt
forslag, S: l
angt forslag, N: .
)
appoggiatura
longa I: longa, F: longa, D: Longa, NL: longa, DK: longa, S: longa, N: longa
)
note value: double length of brevis. )
note value

V 

major interval
I: intervallo maggiore, F: intervalle majeur, D: groes Intervall, NL: groot in-
terval, DK: stort interval, S: stort intervall, N: .
)interval
major I: maggiore, F: [mode℄ majeur, D: Dur, NL: majeur, DK: dur, S: dur, N: dur.
) diatoni s ale
meantone temperament
I: a ordatura mesotoni a, F: temperament mesotonique, D: Mitteltonige Stim-
mung, DK: middeltonetemperatur, S: medeltonstemperatur, N: .
Temperament yielding a ousti ally pure thirds by de reasing the natural fth
) )
by 16 ents. Due to the non- ir ular hara ter of this temperament only
a limited set of keys are playable. Used for tuning keyboard instruments for
performan e of pre-1650 musi .
measure, bar
I: misura, battuta, F: mesure, D: Takt, NL: maat, DK: takt, S: takt, N: takt.
A group of )
beats (units of musi al time) the rst of whi h bears an a -
ent. Su h groups in numbers of two or more re ur onsistently throughout the
omposition and are marked from ea h other by bar-lines. meter )
18

mediant I: mediante, modale, F: mediante, NL: mediant, D: Mediant, DK: mediant, S:

mediant, N: .
)
1. The third s ale degree. 2. A hord having its base tone a third from that
of another hord. For example the toni hord may be repla ed by its lower
mediant (variant toni ). ) )
fun tional harmony relative key.
melodi aden e
) adenza
meter, time
I: tempo, metro, F: metre, D: Taktart, Metrum, NL: maatsoort, DK: taktart,
S: taktart, N: .
The basi s heme of )
note values and )a ents whi h remains unaltered
throughout a omposition or a se tion of it. For instan e 3/4 meter means that
the basi )
note values are quarter-notes and that a )measure onsists of
three of those. A ording to whether there are two, three or four units to the
measure, one speaks of duple (2/2, 2/4, 2/8), triple (3/2, 3/4, 3/8) or quadruple
(4/2, 4/4, 4/8) meter. 4/4 is also alled ommon meter.

3 # # # # ### # # # "
V  4

6 # # # # ####
V  8 # # # # ####

 # # # # # ##
V 5 # # ### ### ### ###
4

metronome
I: metronomo, F: metronome, D: Metronom, NL: metronoom, DK: metronom,
S: metronom, N: metronom.
Devi e indi ating the exa t tempo of a pie e. )
metronomi indi ation
metronomi indi ation
I: indi azione metronomi a, F: indi ation metronomique, D: Metronomangabe,
NL: metronoom aanduiding, DK: metronomtal, S: metronomangivelse, N: .
Exa t tempo indi ation (in beats per minute). Also denoted by M.M. (Malzel's
Metronom)
mezzo-soprano
I: mezzo-soprano, F: mezzo-soprano, D: Mezzosopran, NL: mezzosopraan, DK:
mezzosopran, S: mezzosopran, N: mezzosopran.
)
The female voi e between soprano and ontralto.)
middle C I: do entrale, F: do entral, D: eingestri henes , NL: entrale , DK: enstreget
, S: ettstruket , N:
First C below the 440 Hz A.
 19

!

T R ! V
!

minor interval
I: intervallo minore, F: intervalle mineur, D: kleines Intervall, NL: klein interval,
DK: lille interval, S: litet intervall, N: .
) interval
minor I: minore, F: mode mineur, D: Moll, NL: mineur, DK: mol, S: moll, N: .
) diatoni s ale
mode I: modo, F: mode, D: Modus, NL: modus, DK: skala, S: modus, skala, N: .
) )
hur h mode diatoni s ale
modulation
I: modulazione, F: modulation, D: Modulation, NL: modulatie, DK: modula-
tion, S: modulering, N: .
Moving from one )
key to another. For example the se ond subje t of a
) sonata form movement modulates to the dominant key if the key is major
)
and to the relative key if the key is minor.
mordent I: mordente, F: mordant, D: Mordent, NL: mordent, DK: mordent, S: mordent,
N: .
) ornament
motive; motif
I: in iso, F: in ise, D: Motiv, NL: motief, DK: motiv, S: motiv, N: .
The briefest intelligible and self- ontained fragment of a musi al theme or sub-
je t.
 I
V Y#
# # # # ### ## # #
|| || #
 
# 

# 
# 
 

# # 
#  #


movement I: movimento, F: mouvement, D: Satz, NL: deel, DK: sats, S: sats, N: .

) )
Greater musi al works like symphony and sonata most often onsist of
several - more or less - independant pie es alled movements.
multibar rest
I: pausa multipla, F: pause multiple, NL: meermaats rust, D: mehrtaktige
Pause, DK: ertaktspause, S: ertaktspaus, N: .

3
V !  !
20

mixolydian mode
)
diatoni s ale
natural sign
I: bequadro, F: be arre, D: Au osungszei hen, NL: herstellingsteken, DK: op-
lsningstegn, S: 
aterstallningste ken, N: .
) a idental
neighbour tones
) appoggiatura
ninth I: nona, F: neuvieme, D: None, NL: noon, DK: none, S: nona, N: .
) interval
non-legato ) legato
note I: nota, F: note, D: Note, NL: noot, DK: node, S: not, N: ,
Notes are signs by means of whi h musi is xed in writing. The term is also
used for the sound indi ated by a note, and even for the key of the piano whi h
produ es the sound. However, a lear distin tion between the terms tone and
) note is strongly re ommended. Brie y, one sees a note, and hears a tone.
note head I: testa, testina, apo hia, F: t^ete de la note, D: Notenkopf, NL: nootballetje,
DK: nodehovede, S: nothuvud, N: .
)
A head like sign whi h indi ates pit h by its position on a sta provided with
)
a lef, and duration by a variety of shapes su h as hollow or bla k heads with
) )
or without stems, ags et . For per ussion instruments (often having no
dened pit h) the note head may indi ate the instrument.
note value I: valore, durata, F: duree, valeur (d'une note), D: Notenwert, NL: nootwaarde,
DK nodevrdi, S: notvarde, N: .
Note values (durations) are measured as fra tions, normally 1/2, of the next
higher note value. The longest duration normally used is alled brevis, but
sometimes (mostly in pre baroque musi ) the double length note value longa is
used.
J K
H I
V   ! " # # # # #
longa breve 1/1 1/2 1/4 1/8 1/16 1/32 1/64

V  
 

longa breve 1/1 1/2 1/4 1/8 1/16 1/32 1/64

An augmentation dot after a note multiplies the duration by one and a half.
Another dot adds yet a fourth of the duration.
H I
V 4 # # " # ##" # # " # # ##"
4
pointed double pointed
 21

Alternatively note values may be subdivided by other ratios. Most ommon is

subdivision by 3 (triplets ) and 5 (quintuplets ). Subdivisions by 2 (tuplets ) or 4
(quadruplets ) of dotted notes are also frequently used.

3 5 2 4
V 4 #### # # # ###### # # # 3 # # # # # # # # # #####
4 4
triplets quintuplets duplets quadruplets

o tave sign
) g lef ) f lef
o tave I: ottava, F: o tave, D: Oktave, NL: o taaf, DK: oktav, S: oktav, N: .
) interval
ornament; embellishment; a essory
I: abbellimento, oriture, F: agrement, ornement, D: Verzierung, Ornament,
NL: versiering, DK: forsiring, S: ornament, N: .
Most ommonly used is the trill, the rapid alternation of a given note with the
)
diatoni se ond above it. In the musi from the middle of the 19th entury
and onwards the trill is performed with the main note rst while in the musi
from the pre eding baroque and lassi periods the upper note is played rst.
8 8
" # ! " # !
V
pre-1850 post-1850
V "
# ####### ! " # # # # ##### !

Other frequently used ornaments are the turn, the mordent and the prall (in-
verted mordent).
7 C
# B
# " # # "
V # # # #
turn mordent prall
#### " # # ####"
V # # # ### #

) appoggiatura
ossia I: ossia, F: ossia, D: Ossia, NL: alternatief, DK: ossia, S: ossia, N: .
Ossia (otherwise) marks an alternative. It is an added sta or piano s ore,
usually only a few measures long, whi h presents another version of the musi ,
for example for small hands.
part I: vo e, parte, F: partie, D: Stimme, NL: partij, DK: stemme, S: stamma, N: .
22

1. In instrumental or horal musi the musi for the single instrument or voi e.
)
2. in ontrapuntal musi ounterpoint the single melodi line of the ontra-
puntal web.
per ussion I: per ussioni, F: per ussion, D: S hlagzeug, NL: slagwerk, DK: slagtj, S:
slagverk, N: .
A family of musi al instruments whi h are played on by striking or shaking.
Per ussion instruments ommonly used in a symphony or hestra are kettle-
drums (I: timpani, D: Pauken ), snare drum, bass drum, tambourine, ymbals,
hinese gong (tam-tam), triangle, elesta, glo kenspiel and xylophone.
perfe t interval
I: intervallo giusto, F: intervalle juste, D: reines Intervall, NL: rein interval, DK:
rent interval, S: rent intervall, N: .
) interval
phrase I: frase, F: phrase, D: Phrase, NL: frase, zin, DK: frase, S: fras, N: .
A natural division of the melodi line, omparable to a senten e of spee h.
phrasing I: fraseggio, F: phrase, D: Phrasierung, NL: frasering, DK: frasering, S: frase-
ring, N: .
)
The lear rendering in musi al performan e of the phrases of the melody.
Phrasing may be indi ated by a slur.)
piano I: piano, F: piano, D: piano, leise, NL: piano, DK: piano, S: piano, N: .
piano (p) soft, pianissimo (pp) very soft, mezzopiano (mp) medium soft.
pit h I: altezza, F: hauteur, D: Tonhohe, NL: toonhoogte, DK: tonehjde, S: tonhojd,
N: .
pizzi ato I: pizzi ato, F: pizzi ato, D: pizzi ato, NL: pizzi ato, getokkeld, DK: pizzi ato,
S: pizzi ato.
Play by plu king the strings.
polyphony I: polifonia, F: polyphonie, D: Polyphonie, NL: polyfonie, DK: polyfoni, S:
polyfoni, N: .
Musi written in a ombination of several simultaneous voi es (parts) of a more
)
or less pronoun ed individuality. ounterpoint
portato ) legato
presto I: presto, F: presto, D: Presto, Sehr s hnell, NL: presto, Sehr s hnell, DK:
presto, S: presto, N: .
)
Very qui k, i.e. qui ker than allegro. prestissimo denotes the highest possible
degree of speed.
Pythagorean omma
I: omma pitagori o, F: omma pythagori ien, D: Pythagorais hes Komma, NL:
komma van Pythagoras, DK: pythagorisk komma, S: pytagoreiskt komma, N:
.
A sequen e of fths starting on C eventually ir les ba k to C, but this C,
)
obtained by adding 12 fths, is 24 ents higher than the C obtained by adding
 23

7 o taves. The dieren e between those two pit hes is alled the Pythagorean
omma.
quadruplet
I: quartina, F: quartolet, D: Quartole, NL: kwartool, DK: kvartol, S: kvartol,
N: .
) note value
quarter note
I: semiminima, nera, F: noire, UK: rot het, D: Viertel, Viertelnote, NL: kwart-
noot, DK: fjerdedelsnode, S: fjardedelsnot, N:
) note value
quarter rest
I: pausa di semiminima, F: soupir, UK: rot het rest, D: Viertelpause, NL:
kwart rust, DK: fjerdedelspause, S: fjardedelspaus, N: .
) note value
quintuplet I: quintina, F: quintuplet, D: Quintole, NL: kwintool, DK: kvintol, S: kvintol,
N: .
) note value
rallentando
I: rallentando, F: rallentando, D: rallentando, langsamer, NL: rallentando, DK:
rallentando, S: rallentando, N: rallentando.
Abbreviation "rall.". )
ritardando
relative key
I: tonalita relativa, F: tonalite relative, D: Paralleltonart, DK: paralleltoneart,
S: parallelltonart, N: .
) ) )
Major and minor key with the same signature. )
 ! ! ! !
V  ! ! ! ! !
! ! ! ! !
! !
e at major minor

repeat I: ritornello, F: barre de reprise, D: Wiederholung, NL: herhaling, DK: genta-

gelse, S: repris, N: .
 # # # # "
V 4 # #
# # # # # # " 
4

rest I: pausa, F: silen e, D: Pause, NL: rust, DK: pause, S: paus, N: .

) note value
rhythm I: ritmo, F: rythme, D: Rhythmus, NL: ritme, DK: rytme, S: rytm, N: .
(a) metri al rhythm in whi h every time value is a multiple or fra tion of a xed
) )
unit of time, alled beat, and in whi h the normal a ent re urs in regular
24

)
intervals, alled measure. The basi s heme s heme of time values is alled
) meter. (b) Measured rhythm whi h la ks regularly re urrent a ent. In
modern notation su h musi appears as a free alternation of dierent measures.
( ) Free rhythm, i.e. the use of temporal values having no ommon metri al
unit (beat).
ritardando
I: ritardando, F: ritardando, D: Ritardando, Langsamer, NL: ritardando, DK:
ritardando, S: ritardando, N: .
Gradually sla kening in speed. Mostly abbreviated to rit. or ritard.
ritenuto I: ritenuto, F: ritenuto, D: Ritenuto, NL: ritenuto, DK: ritenuto, S: ritenuto, N:
.
Immediate redu tion of speed.
s ale I: s ala, F: gamme, D: Tonleiter, NL: toonladder, DK: Skala, S: skala, N: .
) diatoni s ale
s ale degree
I: grado della s ala, F: degre [de la gamme℄, D: Tonleiterstufe, NL: trap [van de
toonladder℄, DK: skalatrin, S: skalsteg (?), N: .
Names and symbols used in harmoni analysis to denote tones of the s ale as
roots of hords. The most important are degrees I = toni (T), IV = subdomi-
nant (S) and V = dominant (D).

! ! !
V ! ! ! !
!

I II III IV V VI VII I
T S D

) fun tional harmony

s ore I: partitura, F: partition, D: Partitur, NL: partituur, DK: partitur, S: partitur,
N: .
A opy of or hestral, horal or hamber musi showing what ea h instrument is
to play, ea h voi e to sing, having ea h part arranged one underneath the other
)
on dierent staves.
se ond I: se unda, F: se onde, D: Sekunde, NL: se unde, DK: sekund, S: sekund, N: .
) )
The interval between two neigbouring tones of a s ale. A diatoni s ale
onsists of alternating )semitones and ) whole tones, hen e the size of a
se ond depends on the s ale degrees in question.
semitone I: semitono, F: demi-ton, D: Halbton, NL: halve toon, DK: halvtone, S: halvton,
N: .
)
The interval of a minor se ond. The (usually) smallest interval in European
omposed musi . The interval between two neighbouring tones on the piano
keyboard - in luding bla k and white keys - is a semitone. An o tave may be
divided into 12 semitones. ) )
interval hromati s ale
 25

! ! ! !
V ! !

seventh I: settima, F: septieme, D: Septime, NL: septiem, DK: septim, S: septim, N: .

) interval
sextuplet, sextolet
I: sestina, F: sextolet, D: Sextole, NL: sextool, DK: sekstol, S: sextol, N: .
) note value
sharp I: diesis, F: diese, D: Kreuz, NL: kruis, DK: kryds, S: korsforte ken, N: .
) a idental
short appoggiatura
) appoggiatura
sixteenth note
I: semi roma, F: double ro he, UK: semiquaver, D: Se hzehntel, Se hzehntel-
note, NL: zestiende noot, DK: sekstendedelsnode, S: sextondelsnot, N: .
) note value
sixteenth rest
I: pausa di semi roma, F: quart de soupir, UK: semiquaver rest, D: Se hzehn-
telpause, NL: zestiende rust, DK: sekstendedelspause, S: sextondelspaus, N:
.
) note value
sixth I: sesta, F: sixte, D: Sexte, NL: sext, DK: sekst, S: sext, N: .
) interval
sixty-fourth note
I: semibis roma, F: quadruple ro he, UK: hemidemisemiquaver, D: Vierund-
se hzigstel, Vierundse hzigstelnote, NL: vierenzestigste noot, DK: reogtred-
sindstyvendedelsnode, S: sextiofjardedelsnot, N: .
) note value
sixty-fourth rest
I: pausa di semibis roma, F: seizieme de soupir, UK: hemidemisemiquaver rest,
D: Vierundse hzigstelpause, NL: vierenzestigste rust, DK: reogtredsindstyven-
dedelspause, S: sextiofjardedelspaus, N: .
) note value
slur I: legatura (di portamento or espressiva), F: liaison, oule, D: Bogen,
Bindebogen, Legatobogen, Phrasierungsbogen, NL: binding, bindingsboog,
DK: legatobue, fraseringsbue, S: b age, N: .
A slur above or below a group of notes indi ates that they are to be played
) legato, e.g. with one stroke of the violin bow or with one breath in singing.
solmization
I: solmisazione, F: solmisation, D: Solmisation, NL: solmizatie, DK: solmisation,
S: solmisation, N: .
26

General term for systems of designating the degrees of the ) s ale, not by
)
letters, but by syllables (do (ut ), re, mi, fa, sol, la, si (ti )). s ale degree.
sonata I: sonata, F: sonate, D: Sonate, NL: sonate, DK: sonate, S: sonat, N: .
In its present-day meaning a sonata denotes an instrumental omposition for
piano or for some other instrument with piano a ompaniment, whi h onsists
of three or four independant pie es, alled movements.
sonata form
I: forma sonata, F: [en℄ forme de sonate, D: Sonatenform, NL: hoofdvorm,
sonatevorm, DK: sonateform, S: sonatform, N: .
A form used frequently for single movements of the sonata,) )
symphony,
quartet et . A movement written in sonata form falls in three se tions alled
exposition, development and re apitulation. In the exposition the omposer
introdu es his musi al ideas, onsisting of a number of themes; in the develop-
ment se tion he "develops" this material, and in the re apitulation he repeats
the exposition, with ertain modi ations however. The exposition ontains a
number of themes whi h fall into two groups, often alled rst and se ond sub-
je t. Other melodies o urring in ea h group are onsidered as ontinuations
of these two. The se ond theme is in another key, normally in the key of the
) ) ) )
dominant if the toni is major, and in the relative key if the toni
)
is minor.
soprano I: soprano, F: soprano, D: Sopran, NL: sopraan, DK: sopran, S: sopran, N: .
The highest female voi e.
sta ato I: sta ato, F: sta ato, pique, deta he, D: sta ato, NL: sta ato, DK: sta ato,
S: sta ato, N:
Playing the note(s) short. Sta ato is indi ated by a dot above or below the
notehead.
 H , ,
, "
V 4 # # # #, #
4

sta I: pentagramma, rigo (musi ale), F: portee, D: Notensystem, NL: (noten)balk;

partij, DK: nodesystem, S: notsystem, N: .
pl. staves or stas. A series of (normally 5) horizontal lines upon and between
whi h the musi al notes are written, thus indi ating (in onne tion with a
) )
lef) their pit h. Stas for per ussion instruments may have fewer lines.
stem I: gamba, F: queue, D: Hals, Notenhals, Stiel, NL: stok, DK: hals, S: skaft, N: .
)
Verti al line above or below a note head shorter than a whole note. )
beam
" # H # I#
V " # # M # N
1/2 1/4 1/8 1/16
 27

strings I: ar hi, F: ordes, D: Strei her, NL: strijkers, DK: strygere, S: str
akar, N: .
A family of stringed musi al instruments played with a bow. Strings ommonly
used in a symphony or hestra are violin, viola, violon ello and double bass.
strong beat
I: tempo forte, F: temps fort, D: betonter Taktteil oder -s hlag, NL: thesis, D:
betonet taktslag, S: betonat taktslag, N: .
) ) )
beat a ent measure rhythm )
subdominant
I: sottodominante, F: sous-dominante, D: Subdominante, NL: subdominant,
DK: subdominant, S: subdominant, N: .
)
The fourth s ale degree. )
fun tional harmony
submediant
I: sopratoni a, F: sous-mediante, D: Submediant, NL: submediant, DK: Sub-
mediant, S: submediant, N: .
)
The sixth s ale degree.
subtoni I: sottotoni a, F: sous-tonique, D: Subtonika, NL: subtoni a, DK: Subtonika,
S: subtonika, N: .
)
The seventh s ale degree
superdominant
I: sopradominante, F: sus-dominante, D: Superdominant, NL: superdominant,
DK: superdominant, S: superdominant, N: .
)
The sixth s ale degree
supertoni I: sopratoni a, F: sus-tonique, D: Supertonika, NL: supertoni a, DK: super-
tonika, S: supertonika, N: .
)
The se ond s ale degree.
symphony I: sinfonia, F: symphonie, D: Sinfonie, NL: symfonie, DK: symfoni, S: symfoni,
N: .
)
A symphony may be dened as a sonata for or hestra.
syn opation
I: sin ope, F: syn ope, D: Synkope, NL: syn ope, DK: synkope, S: synkop, N: .
Any deliberate upsetting of the normal pulse of ) meter, ) a ent and
) rhythm. Our system of musi al rhythm rests upon the grouping of equal
beats into groups of two or three, with a regularly re urrent a ent on the rst
beat of ea h group. Any deviation from this s heme is felt as a disturban e
or ontradi tion between the underlaying (normal) pulse and the a tual
(abnormal) rhythm.

4 H# H# # "
V 4 # # #
# #
28

syntoni omma; dydimi omma

I: omma sintoni o (o didimi o), F: omma syntonique, D: Syntonis hes
Komma, NL: syntonis he komma, DK: syntonisk komma, S: syntoniskt
komma, N: .
Dieren e between the natural third and the third obtained by Pythagorean
)
tuning ( Pythagorean omma), equal to 22 ents.
system I: a ollatura, F: systeme, D: Notensystem, NL: systeem, DK: system, S: sys-
tem, N: .
)
The olle tion of staves sta, two or more, as used for the writing down of
keyboard, hamber, horal or or hestral musi .
temperament
I: temperamento, F: temperament, D: Stimmung, Temperatur, NL: tempera-
ment, DK: temperatur, S: temperatur, N: .
Systems of tuning in whi h the intervals deviate from the a ousti ally pure
intervals. ) )
meantone temperament equal temperament
tempo indi ation
I: indi azione di tempo, F: indi ation de temps, D: Zeitma, Tempobezei hnung,
NL: tempo aanduiding, DK: tempobetegelse, S: tempobete kning, N: .
The rate of speed of a omposition or a se tion thereof, ranging from the slow-
est to the qui kest, as is indi ated by tempo marks as )
largo, )
adagio,
) ) )
andante, allegro and presto.
tenor I: tenore, F: tenor, D: Tenor, NL: tenor, DK: tenor, S: tenor, N: .
)
The highest voi e of men (apart from ounter tenor)
tenth I: de ima, F: dixieme, D: Dezime, NL: de iem, DK: de im, S: de ima, N: .
) note value
third I: terza, F: tier e, D: Terz, NL: terts, DK: terts, S: ters, N: .
) interval
thirty-se ond note
I: bis roma, F: triple ro he, UK: demisemiquaver, D: Zweiunddreiigstel,
Zweiunddreiigstelnote, NL: twee-endertigste noot, DK: toogtredivtedelsnode,
S: trettiotv
aondelsnot, N: .
) note value
thirty-se ond rest
I: pausa di bis roma, F: huitieme de soupir, UK: demisemiquaver rest,
D: Zweiunddreiigstelpause, NL: 32e rust, DK: toogtredivtedelspause, S:
trettiotv
aondelspaus, N: .
) note value
thorough bass; gured bass
I: basso ontinuo, basso numerato, F: basse hiree, D: Generalbass, bezierter
Bass, NL: basso ontinuo, DK: generalbas, S: generalbas, N: .
 29

A method of indi ating an a ompaniment part by the bass notes only, together
) )
with gures designating the hief intervals and hords to be played above
the bass notes.

 #
V  4 ## # ## # ## # ##
4 # # # ## # #

# # # # #
T  # # ##
 4 #
4
6 42 6 42 6 42 6

tie; bind I: legatura (di valore), F: liaison, D: Haltebogen, NL: overbinding, DK: binde-
bue, S: bindeb age, overbindning, N: .
A urved line, identi al in appearan e with the )
slur, whi h onne ts two
su esive notes of the same pit h, and whi h has the fun tion of uniting them
into a single sound equal to the ombined durations.

V " #

time signature
I: segni di tempo, F: hirage ( hires indi ateurs), signe de valeur, D: Tak-
tangabe, Angabe der Taktart, NL: maatsoort, DK: taktangivelse, S: taktartssig-
natur, N: .
)
meter
tone I: suono, F: ton, D: Ton, NL: toon, DK: tone, S: ton, N: .
A sound of denite pit h and duration, as distin t from noise. Tone is a primary
building material of musi . Musi from the 20th entury may be based on non
tone related sounds.
toni I: toni a, F: tonique, D: Tonika, NL: toni a, DK: tonika, S: tonika, N: .
)
The rst s ale degree fun tional harmony )
transposition
I: trasposizione, F: transposition, D: Transposition, NL: transpositie, DK: trans-
position, S: transponering, N: .
Shifting a melody up or down in pit h, while keeping the same relative pit hes.
 # # # # #### #  # #### #
V 3 ### # # # #  # #### # # # # #
4

treble lef I: hiave di violino, F: le de sol, D: Violins hlussel, Soprans hlussel, NL: viool
sleutel, DK: diskantngle, S: diskantklav, N: .
)
G lef
30

tremolo I: tremolo, F: tremolo, D: Tremolo, NL: tremolo, DK: tremolo, S: tremolo, N: .

)
On stringed instruments ( strings) the qui k reiteration of the same tone,
produ ed by a rapid up-and-down movement movement of the bow (a). The
)
term is also used for the rapid alternation (b) between two notes of a hord,
)
usually in the distan e of a third ( interval).

V " " # # # "

# "
a b

triad I: triade, F: triade, a ord parfait, a ord de trois sons, D: Dreiklang, NL:
drieklank, DK: treklang, S: treklang, N:
) hord
trill; shake
I: trillo, F: trille, tremblement, battement ( aden e), D: Triller, NL: triller,
DK: trille, S: drill, N: .
) ornament
triple meter
I: tempo ternario, F: mesure ternaire, D: dreiteiliger Takt, NL: driedelige maat-
soort, DK: tredelt takt, S: tretakt, N: .
)meter
triplet I: terzina, F: triolet, D: Triole, NL: triool, DK: triol, S: triol, N: .
) note value
tritone I: tritono, F: triton, D: Tritonus, NL: tritoon, DK: tritonus, S: tritonus, N: .
) interval
tuning fork
I: diapason, orista, F: diapason, D: Stimmgabel, NL: stemvork, DK: stem-
megael, S: stamgael, N: .
A two-pronged pie e of steel used to indi ate absolute pit h. Tuning forks give
the international pit h for the tone a (440 vibrations per se ond.)
turn; gruppetto
I: gruppetto, F: grupetto, D: Doppels hlag, NL: dubbelslag, DK: dobbeltslag,
S: dubbelslag, N: .
unison I: unisono, F: unisson, D: Unison, unisono, NL: unisono, DK: unison, S: unison,
N: .
Playing of the same notes or the same melody by various instruments (voi es) or
by the whole or hestra ( hoir), either at exa tly the same pit h or in a dierent
o tave.
upbeat I: ana rusi, F: ana rouse, D: Auftakt, NL: opmaat, DK: optakt, S: upptakt, N:
Initial note(s) of a melody o urring before the rst bar line. )
measure
) meter
 31

H H
V  4 # # # # # # # # # # # # # "
4

voi e I: vo e, F: voix, D: Stimme, NL: stem, DK: stemme, S: stamma, N: ,

1. Human voi es: )soprano, )mezzo-soprano, ) ontralto, )
tenor,
) )
baritone, bass. 2. A melodi layer or part of a polyphoni omposition.
weak beat I: tempo debole, arsi, F: temps faible, D: unbetonter Taktteil oder -s hlag, NL:
arsis, DK: ubetonet taktslag, S: obetonat taktslag, N: .
) )
beat measure rhythm )
whole note
I: semibreve, F: ronde, UK: semibreve, D: Ganze, Ganze Note, NL: hele noot,
DK: helnode, S: helnot, N: .
) note value
whole rest I: pausa di semibreve, F: pause, UK: semibreve rest, D: Ganze Pause, NL: hele
rust, DK: helnodespause, S: helpaus, N: .
) note value
whole tone
I: tono intero, F: ton entier, D: Ganzton, NL: hele toon, DK: heltone, S: helton,
N: .
)
The interval of a major se ond. The interval between two tones on the piano
keyboard with exa tly one key between them - in luding bla k and white keys
- is a whole tone.
woodwind I: legni, F: le bois, D: Holzblaser, NL: houtblazers, DK trblsere, S: trabl
asare,
N: .
A family of blown wooden musi al instruments. Today some of these instru-
ments are a tually made from metal. The woodwind instruments ommonly
used in a symphony or hestra are ute, oboe, larinet, saxophone and bassoon.
32

DURATION NAMES, NOTES AND RESTS

UK I F D NL DK S N

longa longa longa Longa longa longa longa longa longa

breve breve breve breve Brevis brevis brevis brevis brevis

whole semi- semi- ronde Ganze hele hel hel

breve breve

half minim minima blan he Halbe halve halv halv

quarter rot het semi- noire Viertel kwart fjerde- fjarde-

minima del del

eighth quaver roma ro he A htel a htste ottende- 

atton-
del del

sixteenth semi- semi- double Se h- zesti- seks- sexton-

quaver roma ro he zehntel ende tende- del
del

thirty- demi- bis- triple Zwei- twee- toog- trettio-

se ond semi- roma ro he und- en- tredivte- tv
aon-
quaver dreiig- dertig- del del
stel ste

sixty- hemi- semi- qua- Vier- vieren- reog- sextio-

fourth demi- bis- druple und- zestig- tred- fjarde-
semi- roma ro he se hzig- ste sinds- del
quaver stel tyven-
dedel
 33

PITCH NAMES

I F D NL DK S N

do ut C

-sharp do diesis ut diese Cis is is is is

d- at re re bemol Des des des des des

bemolle

d re re D d d d d

e mi mi E e e e e

f fa fa F f f f f

g sol sol G g g g g

a- at la la bemol As as as as as
bemolle

a la la A a a a a

a-sharp la diesis la diese Ais ais ais ais ais

b- at si si bemol B bes b b b
bemolle

b si si H b h h h

|||||||

Literature used
The Harvard Di tionary of Musi , London 1944. Many more or less litteral
quotes from its arti les have been in luded into the item explanation texts.
Hugo Riemans Musiklexi on, Berlin 1929
Oxford Advan ed Learner's Di tionary of Current English, Third Edition 1974.
Polyglottes Worterbu h der musikalis h Terminologie, Kassel 1980