Music Dictionary Online
A comprehensive reference for musical terms, from performance directions to theory, instruments to composition. 1,002 terms and growing.
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trip-hop
genresA genre blending downtempo electronic beats with hip-hop sampling, atmospheric textures, and often melancholic vocals, originating in early-1990s Bristol, England.
musical
genresA theatrical form combining spoken dialogue, songs, and dance to tell a story.
middle eight
formA contrasting eight-bar section in a pop song that provides relief from the verse-chorus cycle.
sul ponticello explained
techniquesA string technique in which the bow is drawn near the bridge, producing a thin, glassy, overtone-rich sound
drop
formThe climactic moment in electronic dance music where the bass and drums return after a buildup.
Gesamtkunstwerk concept
theoryRichard Wagner's ideal of a "total work of art" that unifies music, poetry, drama, visual design, and stagecraft into a single, all-encompassing artistic experience.