Short Glossary Of Musical Terminology

Given the amount of music which has been published on this site of late, I thought it prudent to briefly list and explain some common muscial terms.


12″ – twelve-inch single (a type of gramophone record).

adagio – a down-tempo passage / a comparatively slow piece (60-80 bpm).

allegro – a up-tempo passage / a comparatively fast piece (120-168 bpm).

arr. (arrangement) – denotes that a track has more than one variation (ie. as of this writing, the track ‘Legerdemain’ has two variations: a piano arr. and a chamber arr.).

chamber – like a classical chamber piece (similar to an orchestral piece, but with fewer instruments).

fugue – a piece that, in its main structure, repeats a theme or themes with variation.

leitmotif – a short motif (theme).

orchestral – like a live or simulated orchestra (similar to ‘chamber’ but with more instruments).

presto – a very fast passage (168-200 bpm).

remaster[ed] – a track that has been subjected to a complete sound-quality modification.

toccata – (from toccare, “to touch”) a piece for keyboard (organ, harpsichord or piano) characterized by intricate variation, swift runs, high harmonies and speed.


All music published to the site is available for download via the Logos Patreon Music Archive.

 

 

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