Home > Glossary > A

Glossary

OTHER | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

a cappella

A Latin term, applied to choral music without accompaniment. read more

abgesang

Bar form. read more

absolute music

Music with no extra-musical association or PROGRAM. read more

accent

The emphasizing of a note in performance. read more

acciaccatura

A " crushed" note, sounded just before the main one, used as a musical ornament. read more

accidental

A sharp, flat or natural sign occurring during a piece, temporarily altering the pitch of a note. read more

ad capo

An Italian term, meaning "from the head", placed at the end of a piece as an instruction to the performer to repeat the first part of the music up to a given point; hence ad capo aria. read more

ad libitum

Details of execution left to the discretion of the performer. read more

adagio

Slow; a slow movement. read more

adlibitum (Lat. "at pleasure")

Details of execution left to the discretion of the performer. read more

aerophone

Ageneric term for a wind instrument. read more

affection

Fixed state of mind, such as rage, fear, or wonder, not unlike a persistent emotion. read more

aggregate

Unordered set of the PITCH-CLASS of the CHROMATIC SCALE read more

agrément

(Fr. "charm") ORNAMENT in French music, usually indicated by a sign. read more

Agrément (Fr. "charm")

ORNAMENT in French music, usually indicated by a sign. read more

---

---