This is a list of musical terms, along with explanations and translations.  It is not complete, so additions are welcome. Languages are marked thusly:

  * NL - Nederlands

  * UK - British English

  * F - French

  * I - Italian

Enharmonic Comma

     F: comma enharmonique

A
     F: la,  D: a.

accent
     F: accent,  D: Akzent NL: accent I: accento.

accidental
     F: altération accidentelle,  D: Vorzeichen, Versetzungszeichen, Akzidenz NL: toevallig teken, I: accidento.

adjacent keys
     F: tons voisins.

alto
     F: alto,  D: Alt, NL: alt.

ancient form??? (diatonic minor scale)
     F: forme du mode mineur ancien.

appoggiatura
     F: appogiature, ports de voix, notes d'agrèment,  D: langer Vorschlag, NL: lange voorslag, I: appogiature.

arbitrary number of bars' rest
     F: bâton de pause,   NL: meermaats rust.

arpeggio
     F: arpège, arpègement,  D: Arpeggio, Brechungen, NL: gebroken akoord, I: arpeggio.

artificial measure
     F: mesure artificielle.

artificial rest
     F: respiration.

ascending interval

     F: intervalle ascendant,   NL: stijgend interval.

augmented (interval)

     F: augmenté (intervalle),  D: übermäßig (Intervall), NL: overmatig interval.

autograph

     1. A manuscript in the composer's own hand. 2.  Music prepared for photoreproduction by freehand drawing, with only the aid of a straightedge ruler and T-square, which attempts to emulate engraving. This required more skill than engraving.

B

     F: si,  D: h.

backfall; forefall

     F: accent, chute, port de voix,  D: Vorschlag, NL: korte voorslag, I: appogiature.

bar line

     F: barre (de mesure),  D: Taktstrich, NL: maatstreep, I: stanghetta.

bar; measure

     F: mesure,  D: Takt, NL: maat, maatstreep.

baritone

     F: bariton,  D: Bariton, NL: bariton.

F clef

     D: F-Schlüssel, NL: F sleutel.

     A clef shaped as a curl with two dots.  The position between the dots is the line of the F below central C.

bass clef

     F: clé de fa,  D: Bass-Schlüssel, NL: bas sleutel, I: chiave di basso.

     A clef setting with central C on the first top ledger line.

bass

     F: basse,  D: Bass, NL: bas.

beam

     F: barre,  D: Balken, NL: waardestreep/balk, I: barra.

beat

     F: temps,  D: Takt(-schlag), NL: tel.

brace

     F: accolade,  D: Klammer, NL: accolade, haak, I: accolada.

     Symbol at the start of a system that connects staffs.

brass

     D: Blechbläser, NL: koper (blazers).

alto clef

     F: clé d'ut,  D: Altschlüssel, NL: alt sleutel, I: chiave di tenore.

     Clef setting that has central C on the middle staff line.

C clef

     NL: C sleutel. .

     A clef symbol that looks like a horizontally mirrored 3.  It indicates the position of the central C. Used in different positions.

C

     F: do,  D: c, NL: C.

C

     F: ut,  D: c.

cadence

     F: cadence,  D: Kadenz, NL: cadens.

cadenza

     F: fioriture,  D: Kadenz, NL: cadens, I: cadenza.

cent

     D: Cent, NL: cent.

     1/1200 of an octave (1/100 of an equally tempered semitone)

chain of trills

     F: chaîne de trilles,   NL: triller.

character

     F: caractère.

chevron

     F: chevron.

chord

     F: accord,  D: Akkord, NL: akkoord.

chromatic scale

     F: gamme chromatique,  D: Chromatische Tonleiter, NL: chromatische toonladder.

chromatic semitone

     F: demi-ton chromatique,   NL: chromatische halve toon.

chromatic transposition

     F: transposition chromatique.

chromatic type

     F: genre chromatique.

church mode; ecclesiastical mode

     F: mode ecclésiastique,  D: Kirchentonart, NL: kerk toonladder.

clef

     F: clé,  D: Notenschlüssel, NL: sleutel, I: la chiave (pl. le chiavi).

comma

     F: comma,  D: Komma, NL: komma.

     Difference in pitch of a note when the note is derived from a different tuning system.

compound interval

     F: intervalle composé,  D: Komplementärintervall.

compound measure

     F: mesure composée,   NL: samengestelde maat.

conjunct movement

     F: mouvement conjoint.

consonant interval; consonance

     F: consonance,  D: Konsonanz, NL: consonant.

contralto

     F: contralto,  D: Alt(-stimme), alt-.

contro-time

     F: contre-temps.

Copying, Music

     A music copyist did fast freehand scores and parts on preprinted staff lines for performance. Some of their conventions (e.g.: the placement of noteheads on stems) varied slightly from those of engravers. Some of their practices (not that) were superior and could well be adopted by music typesetters. This also required more skill than engraving.

crescendo

     F: crescendo,  D: Crescendo,  I: crescendo.

     written with an extended opening angular bracket, indicates increasing volume

cue-notes

     D: Stichnoten, NL: stichnoten.

     In an orchestral part, notes for a different instrument that hint when to start playing.  Usually printed in smaller type.

D

     F: ré,  D: d.

dash over/below

     I: pizzicato.

     With plucked strings

decrescendo

     D: Decrescendo,  I: decrescendo.

     written with an extended closing angular bracket, indicates decreasing volume

degree [of the scale]

     F: degré [de la gamme],  D: Stufe [der Tonleiter], NL: trap [van de toonladder].

descending interval

     F: intervalle descendant,   NL: dalend interval.

diatonic major scale

     F: gamme diatonique majeure,  D: Diatonische Durtonleiter, NL: diatonische majeur toonladder.

diatonic minor scale

     F: gamme diatonique mineure,  D: Diatonische Molltonleiter.

diatonic semitone

     F: demi-ton diatonique,   NL: diatonische halve toon.

diatonic type

     F: genre diatonique,  D: diatonisch.

diatonic

     F: diatonique,   NL: diatonisch.

     A diatonic scale is a scale consisting of whole and half tones.

diminished (interval)

     F: diminué (intervalle),  D: vermindert (Intervall), NL: verminderd (interval).

disjunct movement

     F: mouvement disjoint.

dissonant interval; dissonance

     F: dissonance,  D: Dissonanz, NL: dissonant interval; dissonant.

dominant ninth chord

     F: accord de neuvième dominante,   NL: dominant noon akkoord.

dominant seventh chord

     F: accord de septième dominante,  D: Dominantseptakkord, NL: dominant septiem akkoord.

dominant

     F: dominante,  D: Dominante, NL: dominant.

     A tone that creates tension;the fifth degree of the scale.

dorian mode

     D: Dorische Tonart, NL: dorische toonladder.

     Mode obtained by raising the sixth in minor mode.  A Dorian scale can be played from D to D with no sharps or flats.

dot (augmentation dot)

     F: point,  D: Punkt (Verlängerungspunkt), NL: punt, I: punto.

     An augmentation dot after note adds multiplies the duration by one and a half.

dot and curved line combined

     F: point et liaison combinés.

dot over/below

     D: Staccato, NL: staccato, I: staccato.

     Play each note short.

dot

     F: point,  D: Punkt, NL: punt.

dotted note

     F: note pointée,  D: punktierte Note.

double appoggiatura

     F: appogiature double.

double bar line

     F: double barre,  D: Doppel(takt)strich, NL: dubbele streep, I: doppia barra.

     Indicates the end of a section within a movement.

double dotted note

     F: note doublement pointée,  D: doppel-punktierte Note.

double flat

     F: double bémol,  D: Doppel-Be, NL: dubbelmol, I: doppio bemolle.

double sharp

     F: double dièse,  D: Doppelkreuz, NL: dubbelkruis, I: doppio diesis.

     Raise pitch by two semitones

double trill

     F: trille double,  D: Doppeltriller.

     A trill on a chord

double triplet

     F: double triolet,  D: Doppeltriole, NL: dubbele triool.

double whole note

     UK: breve, D: Brevis, NL: brevis, I: breve.

     Note during twice as long as a whole note. Mainly used in pre-1650 music.

duple meter

     F: temps binaire,   NL: tweedelige maatsoort.

duplet

     F: duolet,  D: Duole, NL: duool.

duration

     F: durée,  D: Dauer, Länge, NL: duur, lengte.

E

     F: mi,  D: e.

eighth note

     F: croche, UK: quaver, D: Achtelnote, NL: achtste noot.

eighth rest

     F: demi-soupir, UK: quaver rest, D: Achtelpause, NL: achtste rust.

engraving

     D: Notenstechen, NL: steken.

     Engraving means incising or etching a metal plate for printing. Photoengraving means drawing music with ink in a manner similar to drafting or engineering drawing, using similar tools.

     The traditional process of music printing is done through: cutting in a plate of metal. Now also the term for the art of music typography.

enharmonic

     F: enharmonique,  D: enharmonisch, NL: enharmonisch.

     Two notes, intervals, or scales are enharmonic if they have different names but sound the same.  Examples: C sharp and D flat, diminished fourth and major third

equal temperament

     F: tempérament égal,   NL: getempereerde stemming.

     Tuning system in which each semitone is precisely 100 cents.

essential alteration

     F: altération essentielle.

expression mark

     F: signe d'expressoin,  D: Vortragszeichen, NL: voordrachtsteken, I: segno d'espressione.

extension of interval

     F: extension d'intervalle.

F

     F: fa,  D: f.

fermata

     F: pauses,  D: Fermate, NL: fermate, I: fermata.

     Prolonged sound or silence of indefinite duration

fifth

     F: quinte,  D: Quinte, NL: kwint.

flag; hook; tail; pennant

     F: crochet,  D: Fähnchen, NL: vlaggetje, I: coda uncinata.

     Ornament at the end of the stem of a note. The number of flags determines the lengths of notes shorter than a quarter note.

flat

     F: bémol,  D: Be, NL: mol, I: bemolle.

     Lower pitch by a semitone

four-bar rest

     F: bâton de pause.

fourth

     F: quarte,  D: Quarte, NL: kwart.

G

     F: sol,  D: g.

glissando

     F: glissement,  D: Glissando, NL: glissando, I: glissando.

     Letting the pitch  slide fluently from one note to the other

graces

     F: petites notes,  D: Verzierungen, Manieren, NL: versieringen, I: appogiature.

grand staff

     NL: piano systeem.

     A combination of two staffs with a brace.  Usually used for piano music.

half note

     F: blanche, UK: minim, D: Halbe Note, NL: halve noot.

half rest

     F: demi-pause, UK: minim rest, D: Halbe Pause, NL: halve rust.

harmonic cadence

     F: cadence harmonique,   NL: harmonische cadens.

     Sequence of chords that terminate a musical phrase or section.

harmonic form (diatonic minor scale)

     F: forme harmonique.

harmonic interval

     F: intervalle harmonique,  D: Harmonisches Intervall.

incomplete measure

     F: mesure incomplète.

interval

     F: intervalle,  D: Intervall, NL: interval.

     Difference in pitch between two notes

inversion of interval

     F: renversement d'intervalle,   NL: interval inversie.

irregular contro-time

     F: contre-temps irrégulier.

irregular group

     F: groupe irrégulier.

irregular measure

     F: mesure irrégulière.

irregular syncopation

     F: syncope irrégulière,   NL: onregelmatige syncope.

just intonation

     I: .

     Tuning system in which the notes are obtained by adding and subtracting natural fifths and thirds.

key signature

     F: armure, armature [de la clé], signes des accidentals,  D: Vorzeichen, NL: toonsoort (voortekens), I: segni di chiave.

kind of note

     F: figure de note.

kind of rest

     F: figure de silence.

leading note

     F: sensible.

ledger line; leger line

     F: ligne supplémentaire,  D: Hilfslinien, Kopfstriche (?), NL: hulplijntje, I: lineette.

     A ledger line is an extension of the staff.

legato curve

     F: liaison rythmique,   NL: legato boog.

lilypond

     F: étang de lis, UK: lily pond, D: Lilienteich, NL: lelievijver, I: stagno del giglio.

     A pond with  lilies floating in it, also the name of a music typesetter.

line

     F: ligne,  D: Linie, NL: lijn.

long appoggiatura

     F: appogiature longue.

lower number

     F: chiffre inférieur.

major (interval)

     F: majeur (intervalle),  D: groß (Intervall), NL: groot (interval).

major mode

     F: mode majeur,  D: Dur.

meantone temperament

     F: tempérament mésotonique.

     Tuning based on a fifth that is 16 cents smaller than the natural fifth.

mediant

     F: médiante,   NL: mediant.

     The third degree of a scale

melodic cadence

     F: cadence mélodique,   NL: cadens.

     A free-form section at the end of a solo-concerto, where the soloist can demonstrate his/her virtuosity.

melodic form (diatonic minor scale)

     F: forme mélodique.

meter; time

     F: mètre,  D: Takt, Metrum, NL: maatsoort.

     A recurring pattern of stress

metronome

     F: métronome,  D: Metronom, NL: metronoom.

     Device which sounds a steady beat

metronomic indication

     F: indication métronomique,  D: Metronomangabe.

     Exact tempo indication (in beats per minute).  Also denoted by M.M. (Mälzel's Metronom)

mezzo-soprano

     F: mezzo-soprano,  D: Mezzosopran.

middle C

     F: do central,  D: eingestrichenes c, NL: centrale C.

     First C below the 440 Hz A.

minor (interval)

     F: mineur (intervalle),  D: klein (Intervall).

minor mode

     F: mode mineur,  D: Moll.

modal note

     F: note modale.

mode

     F: mode,  D: Geschlecht.

modulation

     F: modulation,  D: Modulation, NL: modulatie.

mordent

     F: mordant, pincè,  D: Pralltriller, Mordent, NL: mordent, I: mordente.

motive

     F: incise,  D: Motiv, NL: motief.

musical ladder

     F: échelle musicale.

mixolydian mode

     D: Mixolydische Tonart, NL: Mixolydische toonladder.

     Mode obtained by lowering the seventh in major.  A mixolydian scale can be obtained by playing G to G with no sharps or flats.

natural sign

     F: bécarre,  D: Auflösungszeichen, NL: herstellingsteken, I: bequadro.

     Do not play the following note flat or sharp.

ninth

     D: None, NL: noon.

note head

     D: Notenkopf, NL: noot balletje.

note

     F: note,  D: Note, NL: noot, I: nota.

octave line

     F: échelle d'octave.

octave line

     F: clé d'octave.

octave sign

     F: octave,  D: Oktave,  I: ottava.

octave

     F: octave,  D: Oktave, NL: octaaf.

ornament; embellishment; accessory

     F: agrèment, ornement, D: Verzierungen, I: fiorette, fioriture, abbellimenti.

ossia

     NL: alternatief

     Ossia (otherwise) marks an alternative. It is an added staff or piano score, usually only a few measures long, which presents another version of the music, for small hands, for example.

part

     NL: partij.

pause

     F: pause,  D: Luftpause.

pause

     F: point d'orgue.

perfect (interval)

     F: juste (intervalle),  D: rein (Intervall), NL: rein (interval).

perfect major chord

     F: accord parfait majeur.

perfect minor chord

     F: accord parfait mineur.

phrase member

     F: membre de phrase.

phrase

     F: phrase,  D: Phrase, NL: frase, zin.

phrasing

     F: phrasé.

pitch pipe; tuning fork

     F: diapason,  D: Stimmgabel, NL: stemfluitje; stemvork.

pitch

     F: hauteur,  D: Tonhöhe, NL: toonhoogte.

Pythagorean comma

     F: comma pythagoricien,  D: Pythagoräisches Komma, NL: komma van Pythagoras.

     A sequence of fifths starting on C eventually circles back to C (B sharp), but this B sharp is 24 cents higher than C.  This gap is the Pythagorean comma.

quadruplet

     F: quartolet,   NL: kwartool.

quarter note

     F: noire, UK: crotchet, D: Viertelnote, NL: kwartnoot.

quarter rest

     F: soupir, UK: crotchet rest, D: Viertelpause, NL: kwart rust.

register

     F: registre,  D: Register, NL: register.

regular contro-time

     F: contre-temps régulier.

regular syncopation

     F: syncope régulière.

relative scales

     F: gammes relatives, tons relatifs.

repeat

     F: barre de reprise,  D: Wiederholung, NL: herhaling.

rest

     F: silence.

rest

     F: soupir,  D: Pause, NL: rust, I: pausa.

return sign

     F: renvoi,   NL: herstellingsteken.

rhythm

     F: rythme,  D: Rhythmus, NL: ritme.

rhythmic curve

     F: courbe rythmique.

scale

     F: gamme,  D: Tonleiter, NL: toonladder.

score

     F: partition,  D: Partitur, NL: partituur.

second

     F: seconde,  D: Sekunde,  I: secunde.

semitone

     F: demi-ton,  D: Halbton, NL: halve toon.

seventh

     F: septième,  D: Septime, NL: septiem, I: septime.

sextuplet

     F: sextolet,  D: Sextole, NL: sextool.

sextuplet

     F: sixain,   NL: sextool.

shading signs

     F: signes indicateurs de nuance.

shading

     F: nuance,  D: Nuance.

sharp

     F: dièse,  D: Kreuz (um Halbton erhöht), NL: kruis.

short appoggiatura

     F: appogiature brève.

simple appoggiatura

     F: appogiature simple.

simple interval

     F: intervalle simple.

simple measure

     F: mesure simple.

sixteenth note

     F: double croche, UK: semiquaver, D: Sechzehntelnote, NL: zestiende noot.

sixteenth rest

     F: quart de soupir, UK: semiquaver rest, D: Sechzehntelpause, NL: zestiende rust.

sixth

     F: sixte,  D: Sexte, NL: sext.

sixty-fourth note

     F: quadruple croche, UK: hemidemisemiquaver, D: Vierundsechzigstelnote, NL: vierenzestigste noot.

sixty-fourth rest

     F: seizième de soupir, UK: hemidemisemiquaver rest, D: Vierundsechzigstelpause.

slur

     F: liaison, coulé,  D: Bindungszeichen, Bindebogen, NL: binding, bindingsboog, I: legatura.

soprano

     F: soprano,  D: Sopran, NL: sopraan.

space

     F: espace.

staff

     F: portée,  D: Noten(linien)system, NL: (noten)balk; partij.

     pl staves or staffs

stem

     F: queue,  D: Stiel, Hals, NL: stok, I: asta, gamba.

strings

     D: Streicher, NL: strijkers.

strong beat

     F: temps fort,   NL: thesis.

subdominant

     F: sous-dominante,  D: Subdominante.

     The fourth degree of the scale

submediant

     I: .

     The sixth scale degree

subtonic

     F: sous-tonique,  D: Subtonika.

     The seventh degree of the scale

superdominant

     F: sus-dominante.

     The sixth scale degree

supertonic

     F: sus-tonique.

     The second scale degree

syncopation; upbeat

     F: syncope,  D: Synkope, NL: syncope.

syntonic comma

     F: comma syntonique,   NL: komma van Didymos, syntonische komma.

     Difference between the natural third and the third obtained by Pythagorean tuning, euqal to 22 cents.

system

     F: système,  D: System, NL: systeem, I: sitema.

tempo indication

     F: signes de temps,  D: Zeitmaß, Tempobezeichnung, NL: tempo aanduiding, I: segno di tempo.

tempo; movement

     F: mouvement,  D: Tempo.

tenor

     F: ténor,  D: Tenor.

tenth

     D: Dezime, NL: deciem, I: decime.

tetrachord

     F: tétracorde,  D: Vierklang.

third

     F: tierce,  D: Terz, NL: terts.

thirty-second note

     F: triple croche, UK: demisemiquaver, D: Zweiunddreißigstelnote, NL: 32e noot.

thirty-second rest

     F: huitième de soupir, UK: demisemiquaver rest, D: Zweiunddreißigstelpause, NL: 32e rust.

tie

     F: liaison,  D: Haltebogen, NL: overbinding, I: legatura.

     A curve that shows the prolongation (as opposed to the repetition fo a note)

time signature

     F: chiffrage (chiffres indicateurs), signe de valeur,  D: Taktvorzeichnung, Taktvorzeichen, NL: maatsoort, I: segni di tempo.

tonal note

     F: note tonale.

tonality

     F: tonalité,  D: Tonalität, NL: tonaliteit.

tone

     F: ton,  D: Ton, NL: toon.

tonic

     F: tonique,  D: Tonika, NL: tonica.

transposition

     F: transposition,  D: Transposition, NL: transpositie.

     Shifting a melody up or down in pitch, while keeping the same relative pitches.

G clef

     NL: G sleutel.

     A clef symbol with a loop at the top and a spiral in the center.  The center of the spiral indicates the G above central C.

treble clef

     F: clé de sol,  D: Violinschlüssel, NL: viool sleutel, I: chiave di violino.

     Clef setting where the second lowest line is the G above central C.

tremolo

     F: trèmolo,  D: Tremolo, NL: tremolo, I: tremolo.

trill; shake

     F: trille, tremblement, battement (cadence),  D: Triller, NL: triller, I: trillo.

triple meter

     F: temps ternaire,   NL: driedelige maatsoort.

triplet

     F: triolet,  D: Triole.

tritone

     F: triton,  D: Tritonus.

turn; gruppetto

     F: brisè, groupe, doublè, grupetto,  D: Doppelschlag, NL: dubbelslag, I: grupetto.

two-bar rest

     F: bâton de pause.

underline over/below

     F: portamento,  D: Portato.

unison

     F: unisson,  D: Unisono,  I: unisono.

     Different instruments playing exactly the same melody.

unit of beat

     F: unité de temps.

unit of measure

     F: unité de mesure.

upbeat; arsis

     D: Auftakt.

upper number

     F: chiffre supérieur.

voice

     F: voix,  D: Stimme, NL: stem.

weak beat

     F: temps faible,   NL: arsis.

whole note

     F: ronde, UK: semibreve, D: Ganze Note, NL: hele noot.

whole rest

     F: pause, UK: semibreve rest, D: Ganze Pause.

woodwind

     D: Holzbläser, NL: houtblazers.