Music Terminology

Some useful terminology for music:

composer
conductor
band
orchestra
(sections:)
percussion
woodwinds
brass
strings

choir
duet
duo
ensemble
quartet
quintet
sextet
trio
chamber orchestra
philharmonic
symphonic

rhythm
beat
pitch
volume
quality
(speed) fast, slow
note (natural, flat, sharp)
part
monody, polyphony
register
soprano, mezzosoprano, alto, tenor, bartione, bass
falsetto
key, key signature
meter
measure
time signature
tempo: moderato, ritardando, adagio, allegretto, allegro, andente largo, legato
common time
cut time
3/4 time (waltz)
dynamics: forte, piano, crescendo, decrescendo, diminuendo
clef: treble, alto, bass
scale
major
minor
quarter-tone
chord
arpeggio
run
cadence
double-stop
dissonance
triplet
tremolo
vibrato
uptempo
score
staff
canon
unison
improvistion
syncopation
swing

motif
theme
variation
segue
solo
movement
anthem
aria
ballad
concerto
coda
elegy
entr'acte
etude
fanfare
fugue
Gregorian chant
hymn
intermezzo
(jazz) standard
jig
minuet
musical theatre
opera
operetta
opus
ballet
overature
pavane
prelude
pastorale
requiem mass
rhapsody
rondo
scherzo
serenade
sonata
suite
symphony
waltz

madrigal
Baroque
Classical
Romantic
Neoclassicism
Neo-romanticism
Impressionism
Expressionism
Modernism
Post-Modern
Minimalism
experimental music (avant-garde)
noise
Ragtime
Jazz
big band
swing
soul
dixieland jazz
bebop
blues
bluegrass
country
country-pop
western music
folk
filk music
rock n roll
popular (pop)
cinema/tv score music
Electronic music
musical
ballroom: tango, cha cha cha
gospel
reggae
hip hop
rap
r&b
disco
motown
latin
techno
trip hop
new age
punk rock
grunge
alternative rock
progressive rock
hard rock
glam rock
emo
metal
death metal
parody/comedy music
muzak
 fusion