A (note): 1. The musical pitch relating to 440 oscilations per second of vibration, or any octave transposition of that pitch. 2. The key of A. The sixth note (submediant) of the C major scale, and the first note of its relative minor scale.

A Minor: A minor is a minor scale based on A. The A natural minor scale are the pitches A, B, C, D, E, F, G, A and a key signature with no sharp or flat notes. The A melodic minor scale raises the sixth and seventh notes of the natural minor by a half step as you go up the scale (A, B, C, D, E, F#, G#, A) then returns to the A natural minor as you go down the scale (A, B, C, D, E, F, G). The A harmonic minor scale is the A natural minor scale with the seventh note raised a half-step going up and down the scale.

Absolute Music: Music without associations outside of itself, in contrast to program music; music which is inspired by itself rather than extramusical implications such as the stories legends of "program" music.

Absolute Pitch: see perfect pitch.

A Cappella: "In the manner of the chapel", "as in the church". Sung music without instrumental accompaniment.

Accelerando, accel: Gradually faster.

Accent: Placed above a note to indicate stress or emphasis.

Accidentals: Sharps, flats, or natural signs that raise or lower a given diatonic pitch to deviate from its key signature.

Accompaniment: A vocal or instrumental part that supports the primary part, or provides background for a soloist.

Achromatic: See diatonic.

Achtel: German; Eighth note.

Acoustics: 1. The science relating to the creation and dissipation of sound waves. 2. The way in which sound production is affected by the physical properties of the room or chamber in which they are produced.

A due: 1. Italian; musical direction meaning "for two", usually abbreviated "a2" In French, à deux. 2. Indicates that two instruments playing the same part or score are to play in unison.

Adagio: Slow; slower than andante, faster than largo.

Addolorato: Sorrowfully.

Aeolian Mode: A medieval mode whose scale pattern is that of playing A to A on the white keys of a piano. This scale is also called the natural minor scale.

Agilmente: Lively.

Agitato: Agitated; with excitement.

Air: A Song or melody.

Alberti Bass: A pattern of bass notes that outlines the chord being sounded in the pattern low-high-middle-high.

Albumblatt: (Ger.) A page or leaf from a book, or a short, easy piece.

Alla breve: (It. - according to the breve) Cut time; meter in which there are two beats in each measure and a half note receives one beat; twice as fast as normal.

Allemande: (French.) "German." A stately 16th-century German dance, initially in a duple meter. During the 17th and 18th centuries, it was used as the first movement of the suite.

Allegro: (Italian.) "Cheerful", "Lively", "Brisk", "Upbeat". 1. A tempo marking that indicates to play fast, quickly and bright. 2. In ballet, all jumps, regardless of tempo.

Allegro Assai: a tempo marking that indicates to play at a very fast tempo.

Allegro Assai Moderato: a tempo marking that indicates to play at a very moderate tempo.

Allegro di Molto: (Italian.) "Very lively". To perform the indicated passage of a composition at a very fast tempo.

Allegro Molto: (Italian.) "Very lively". Allegro Molto: To perform the indicated passage of a composition at a very fast tempo.

Alteration: The use of a sharp or flat to raise or lower a pitch from its natural state.

Altered Chord: A chord in which a note has been changed from its normal position, usually chromatically.

Alto: 1. In most choirs, the lowest female vocal part. Occasionally, extremely high tenors may be said to sing this part. 2. An instrument in the alto range. 3. A viola.

Alto Clef: The C clef falling on third line of the staff, in modern practice, is usually only used by the viola.

Analysis: The study of the form and structure of music.

Andante: Moderate tempo.

Answer: In a fugue, the second entry of the subject.

Antescedent: The first phrase of a musical period. In a fugue, the subject.

Anthem: A choral or vocal composition, often with a religious or political lyric, with or without accompaniment, written either for performance in a church, or another place with significance to the Song itself.

Antithesis: In the fugue, the answer.

Aria: A musical work usually found in an opera or oratorio, which generally dwells on a single emotional theme of one of the characters.

Arietta: A short aria.

Arpeggio: The notes of a chord played in successsion to one another ( performed one after the other), rather than simultaneously. A broken chord.

Arrangement: An adaptation of a given composition into a form other than as originally composed.

Ars Antiqua: "Old Art", "ancient art". Refers to the old musical practices of Europe during the 12th and 13th centuries, characterized by adding harmonies to chants. Also known as organum; a form of singing in three-part harmony.

Ars Nova: "New Art". A term invented by Philippe De Vitry to describe the music of his era, the 14th century, as opposed to the music of earlier generations, and saw the invention of modern notation.

Art Music: Also called classical music, cultivated music, serious music, and canonic music, it's primarily used to refer to music descending from Western classical music. Art Music is primarily considered a written musical tradition that focuses on formal styles.

Art Song: A serious vocal composition, generally for voice and piano. Denotes a self-contained work, as opposed to an aria.

Assai: (Italian.) "Very." Often appears in indications to performers of the speed of a piece of music, as in allegro assai or allegro assai moderato.

Atonal: Music that lacks a tonal center, or in which all pitches carry equal importance. Wikipedia article on Atonality.

Augmentation: The lengthening of note values used in a theme to alter the melody without changing the pitches.

Aubade: 1. a song sung in the morning by a departing lover to a sleeping woman. 2. a song or poem greeting the dawn. An example is the Siegfried Idyll, written by Wagner to played for his second wife Cosima on the morning of her birthday.

Augmented: Raised, or enlarged. Generally refers to the raising of a pitch chromatically by one half step.

Augmented Chord: A chord which contains a root, a major third, and an augmented fifth.

Augmented Sixth Chord: A chord which contains an augmented sixth above the bass, in addition to various other tones, which determine weather the chord is a German Sixth Chord, French Sixth Chord, Italian Sixth Chord, Neopolitan Sixth, or Doubly Augmented Sixth Chord.

Authentic Cadence: A cadence that starts of the fifth of the key, and resolves to the tonic.

Last updated: 8/15/2024

Select Resources: A Dictionary of Muical Terms, edited by J. Stainer and W. A. Barrett
Elson's Music Dictionary, Louis C. Elson
Virginia Tech Multimedia Music Dictionary, Richard Cole - Virginia Tech Department of Music and Ed Schwartz - Learning Technologies
Glossary of music terms from Naxos Digital Services Ltd.
Glossary of musical terminology, Aleksandar Tamindžić
Classical musical terms, Classical.dj
Music Dictionary, Dolmetsch Online
The New GROVE Dictionary of Music and Musicians, edited by Stanley Sadie