This is a list of musical terms that are likely to be encountered in printed scores, music reviews, and program notes. Most of the terms are Italian Italian ( italiano , or lingua italiana) is a Romance language spoken by about 60 million people in Italy, and by another 10 million Italian descendants in the world, making it spoken by a total of 70 million native speakers. It is also spoken by an additional 125 million people as a foreign language. In Switzerland, Italian is one of four (see also Italian musical terms used in English A great many musical terms are in Italian. This is because many of the most important early composers in the renaissance period were Italian, and that period is when numerous musical indications were used extensively for the first time[citation needed]), in accordance with the Italian origins of many European musical conventions. Sometimes, the special musical meanings of these phrases differ from the original or current Italian meanings. Most of the other terms are taken from French French is a Romance language globally spoken by about 110 million people who speak French (native and first language speakers combined). Around 190 million people speak French as a second language, and an additional 200 million speak it as as an acquired foreign language.[citation needed] French speaking communities are present in 57 countries and and German German (Deutsch, [ˈdɔʏtʃ] ) is a West Germanic language, thus related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. It is one of the world's major languages and the most widely spoken first language in the European Union. Globally, German is spoken by approximately 105 million native speakers and also by about 80 million non-native speakers, indicated by "(Fr)" and "(Ger)", respectively. Others are from languages such as Latin and Spanish.
Unless specified, the terms are Italian or English. The list can never be complete: some terms are common, and others are used only occasionally, and new ones are coined from time to time. Some composers prefer terms from their own language rather than the standard terms here. For a list of terms used in jazz, country, rock, and other popular music genres, see the List of jazz and popular musical terms This is a list of jazz and popular musical terms that are likely to be encountered in printed popular music songbooks and vocal scores, big band scores, jazz and rock concert reviews, and album liner notes. This glossary includes terms for musical instruments, playing or singing techniques, amplifiers, effects, sound reinforcement equipment, and article.
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School Library Journal
Concepts are related to real-life examples. Unfamiliar terminology is defined and explained. The DVD has a glossary and labeled slides. ...
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