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Translation Dictionary - Lyrics glossary Category: Music and Sound Date & country: 24/10/2013, UK Words: 469

gustoso
with happy emphasis and forcefulness

H
German for B natural; B in German means B flat

Hauptstimme (Ger)
main voice, chief part; i.e., the contrapuntal line of primary importance, in opposition to Nebenstimme

hemiola (English, from Greek)
the imposition of a pattern of rhythm or articulation other than that implied by the time signature; specifically, in triple time (for example in 3/4) the imposition of a duple pattern (as if the time signature were, for example, 2/4).

hervortretend (Ger)
prominent, pronounced

Homophony
A musical texture with one voice (or melody line) accompanied by chords; also used as an adjective (homophonic). Compare with polyphony, in which several voices or melody lines are performed at the same time.

immer (Ger)
always

imperioso
imperiously

impetuoso
impetuously

improvvisando
with improvisation

improvvisato
improvised, or as if improvised

in altissimo
in the highest; i.e., play or sing an octave higher

in modo di
in the art of, in the style of

incalzando
getting faster and louder

insistendo
insistently, deliberate

intimo
intimately

intro
opening section

irato
angrily

keyboardist (Eng)
a musician who plays any instrument with a keyboard. In Classical music, this may refer to instruments such as the piano, pipe organ, harpsichord, and so on. In a jazz or popular music context, this may refer to instruments such as the piano, electric piano, synthesizer, Hammond organ, and so on.

Klangfarbenmelodie (Ger)
tone-color-melody, distribution of pitch or melody among instruments, varying timbre

kr
strongly

l'istesso
see lo stesso, below

lacrimoso
tearfully; i.e., sadly

lamentando
lamenting, mournfully

lamentoso
lamenting, mournfully

langsam (Ger)
slowly

largamente
broadly; i.e., slowly (same as largo)

larghetto
somewhat slowly; not as slow as largo

larghissimo
very slowly; slower than largo

largo
broadly; i.e., slowly

lebhaft (Ger)
briskly, lively

legato
joined; i.e., smoothly, in a connected manner (see also articulation)

leggierissimo
very lightly and delicately

leggiero, or leggiermente
lightly, delicately

lent (Fr)
slowly

lentissimo
very slowly

lento
slowly

liberamente
freely

libero
free, freely

lilt
a jaunty rhythm

loco
[in] place; i.e., perform the notes at the pitch written, generally used to cancel an 8va or 8vb direction. In string music, also used to indicate return to normal playing position (see Playing the violin).

long accent
Hit hard and keep full value of note (>)

lontano
from a distance; distantly

lugubre
lugubrious, mournful

luminoso
luminously

lunga
long (often applied to fermatas)

lusingando
coaxingly

m
moderately (also

ma
but

ma non troppo
but not too much

maestoso
majestically, in a stately fashion

maggiore
the major key

magico
magically

magnifico
magnificent

main droite (French)
[played with the] right hand (abbreviation

main gauche (French)
[played with the] left hand (abbreviation

malinconico
melancholy

mancando
dying away

mano destra
[played with the] right hand (abbreviation

mano sinistra
[played with the] left hand (abbreviation

marcatissimo
with much accentuation

marcato, marc.
marked; i.e., with accentuation, execute every note as if it were to be accented

marcia
a march; alla marcia means in the manner of a march

martellato
hammered out

marziale
in the march style

MD
see mano destra and main droite

medley
piece composed from parts of existing pieces, usually three, played one after another, sometimes overlapping.

melancolico
melancholic

melisma
the technique of changing the note (pitch) of a syllable of text while it is being sung

meno
less; see meno mosso, for example, under mosso

messa di voce
in singing, a controlled swell, i.e. crescendo then diminuendo, on a long held note, especially in Baroque music and in the bel canto period

mesto
mournful, sad

meter (or metre)
the pattern of a music piece's rhythm of strong and weak beats

mezza voce
half voice; i.e., with subdued or moderated volume

mezzo
half; used in combinations like mezzo forte (mf), meaning moderately loud

mezzo forte
half loudly; i.e., moderately loudly.

mezzo piano
half softly; i.e., moderately softly.

MG
see main gauche

misterioso
mysteriously

mobile
flexible, changeable

moderato
moderate; often combined with other terms, usually relating to tempo; for example, allegro moderato

modesto
modest

Moll (German)
minor; used in key signatures as, for example, a-Moll (A minor), b-Moll (B♭ minor), or h-Moll (B minor) (see also Dur (major) in this list)

molto
very

morendo
dying; i.e., dying away in dynamics, and perhaps also in tempo

mosso
moved, moving; used with a preceding pi

moto
motion; usually seen as con moto, meaning with motion or quickly

MS
see mano sinistra

munter (German)
lively

muta [in...]
Change

N.C.
no chord, written in the chord row of music notation to show there is no chord being played, and no implied harmony

narrante
narratingly

natural
a symbol (♮) that cancels the effect of a sharp or a flat (see in this list)

naturale or nat.
natural; i.e., discontinue a special effect, such as col legno, sul tasto, sul ponticello, or playing in harmonics

Nebenstimme (Ger)
under part; i.e., a secondary contrapuntal part, always occurring simultaneously with, and subsidiary to, the Hauptstimme

nicht (Ger)
not

niente
nothing, barely audible, dying away

nobile or nobilmente
in a noble fashion

nocturne (Fr)
a piece written for the night

notes in
unequal notes; a principally Baroque performance practice of applying long-short rhythms to pairs of notes written as equal; see also swung note