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about this glossary of musical termsA glossary is a list of difficult or specialized words, signs, and symbols with their definitions, often placed at the back of a book. This glossary is no different, except that:
In the glossary, you will find words like tempo, key, adagio, a capella, fugue, chord, and ostinato. These kinds of words are used by popular and classical composers, arrangers, conductors, singers, instrumentalists, disc jockeys, advertisers—almost anyone and everyone who has anything to do with the creation, production, or distribution of music. Sheet music and scores are replete with them. Although seldom seen by anyone not directly involved in the production of music, the music heard on radio, television, CDs, or in movies could not be crated without them.Terms in the glossary appear in, are about, or are drawn from:
limitationsThis scope of the terms appearing in this glossary is comprehensive but not all-inclusive. Some of the kinds of terms you will not find:
Most of the terms that appear in the glossary are taken from Western music dating from the Middle Ages to the present, but that limitation is not by design. why a glossary of musical terms?There are two kinds of musical language—a language of music and a language about music. Music itself consists of the sounds one hears when listening to music being played. These sounds are an expression of thoughts, feelings, moods, and ideas. they are a language being "spoken"—the language of music. The other kind of musical language is the language consisting of words that people use to write about or talk about music when they describe it or explain their reactions. This is the sense which applies here. Why is important to be familiar with musical terms? Terms are essential elements of any dialogue about music. A musician, musicologist, critic, teacher, or another who is professionally engaged in a field of music must be able to orally communicate with confreres and to read or write about music in order to operate. There are so many musical terms, not even a professional can be expected to master or remember them all. Even those without a professional involvement in music benefit from a familiarity with musical terms. Musical definitions contain information about music. Having information about music helps improve insight, understanding, and enjoyment. Further, music is so pervasive an influence in society, everyone runs into musical terms at every turning. Whatever the extent of one's involvement in music, knowing at least a few musical terms helps in many everyday, practical ways—homework, general reading, literature, poetry, crossword puzzles, history, the classics, liturgical activities, and more. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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