Musical terms
What is a string quartet?
What is a string quartet? Interesting question, as it can mean both an ensemble of players and a piece of music written for that ensemble. Stephen Johnson explains
What is a symphony? | What is a symphony?
Stephen Johnson gets to grips with one of classical music's essential terms, the symphony
What is a melody? And how has it developed through history?
It may be one of music’s fundamental properties, but the art of penning a memorable melody has long proved a notoriously elusive one. Stephen Johnson reveals the story – and the secrets – behind the humble tune
Allegro meaning: what does the instruction allegro mean in music?
Find out all you need to know about the term musical term allegro - what it means, when it began to be a common sight on musical scores, and a few of the many works that use this instruction
What is jazz music?
Destructive or redemptive, degenerate or transformative? Jazz is a phenomenon, a true world music that came of age over a hundred years ago. Here's our guide to the jazz music genre, its origins and pioneers
What is Synaesthesia?
The neurological condition Synaesthesia is seen as a blessing by many artists. Michael Beek explains more...
What is a leitmotif?
Most associated with the operas of Wagner, a leitmotif is a brief musical device signifying a character, location or idea, as Charlotte Smith explains
Countertenor singers: their vocal range, style and the famous countertenors from history
Discover what a countertenor is, the range they sing and who are the famous countertenors you should know about
What is a contralto?
Discover what a contralto is and the range they sing
What does it mean if you have perfect pitch?
Michael Beek explains what is meant by having perfect pitch
Pitch: what is pitch in music?
Stephen Johnson gets to grips with classical music's technical terms. He defines pitch in music, what it means and the context in which it's used in classical music and composing
Intonation meaning: what it is and why intonation is important in music
Discover the meaning of intonation in music
What is a Circle of Fifths?
If you struggle with music theory, the circle of fifths can seem a confusing concept with its roots firmly in mathematics. Fear not, we discuss what this diagram shows and its use in music
What is a sonata? From definition to examples, we dive into the world of sonatas
You may have spotted the word 'sonata' in the title of many famous pieces of classical music, but what does 'sonata' actually mean? We explain
Musical terms dictionary: a glossary of useful musical language
Stuck on the meaning of a particular musical terms? Help is at hand, with the BBC Music Magazine glossary of musical terminology
Kodály method: what it is, its benefits and how it helps children learn music
As arts education strains under the pressure of cuts, the Kodály method for teaching music has never seemed more important, suggests Helen Wallace
What’s the difference between chamber music and orchestral music?
We explain the differences between chamber music and orchestral music, and how each form has evolved throughout history
Concerto vs symphony: what's the difference?
Need to know how a concerto differs from a symphony? What do they have in common, and what separates them? Michael Beek explains
What is a limerick?
We shine a light on limericks, including everything from structure to examples
What is an octave in music?
We explain the meaning of the term 'octave' and how it relates to musical range
Polyphony music definition: How polyphony revolutionised ancient music
We explain the basics of polyphony and how it works, with examples from well-known composers
Avant garde music: what it is and some famous examples of avant garde music
From definition to examples, we cover all things avant garde
What is a motif in music?
We explain the meaning of the term motif.
What is an ode? And how has it developed through history?
Jeremy Pound traces the history and uses of the ode, a key musical form found originally in Greek poetry, and later used to serenade kings and queens