glossary

A GUIDE TO THE GERMAN PHRASES AND MUSICAL TERMS IN WINTERSONG & SHADOWSONG

AUF WIEDERSEHEN: Owf VEE-der-zayn. Until we meet again.

DANKE: DAHN-keh. Thank you

FRÄULEIN: FROI-line. Miss, maiden, a form of address.

GROSCHEN: GROH-shen. A unit of currency.

HÖDEKIN: HU-deh-kin. A sort of sprite, similar to the British brownie or pixie.

KAPELLMEISTER: Kah-PELL-mai-ster. The highest position in a nobleman’s orchestra, the person responsible for finding and producing new music and directing productions, as well as conducting and playing.

LÄNDLER: LEND-ler. A folk dance.

MEIN BRÜDERCHEN: Mine BREW-der-khen. My little brother.

VIEL GLÜCK: FEEL GLYOOK. Good luck.

ZWEIFACHER: ZVAI-fahkh-er. A folk dance.

Adagio: A tempo marking, meaning a piece should be played slowly.

Basso continuo. The bass line or accompaniment to the melody in a piece.

Chaconne. A short composition, often with a repetitive bass line, used as a vehicle for variation; can also be a sort of warm-up or exercise for a musician.

Concerto. A piece of music written for a solo instrument to be accompanied by an orchestra.

Descrescendo. A musical term indicating that the phrase should be played with increasing softness.

Ecossaise. Originally a Scottish dance, a short, lively piece that accompanies a social dance (like a waltz).

Etude. A short musical composition written for a solo instrument, usually of considerable difficulty in order to practice various technical skills.

Fermata. A musical notation indicating a note should be held longer than its usual duration.

F-holes. The holes on the body of a violin, shaped like the letter f.

Fortepiano. A precursor to the modern piano.

Glissando. A musical notation indicating that there should be a glide from one to another.

Klavier. A general term for an instrument with a keyboard.

Largo. A tempo marking, indicating a piece should be played very slowly.

Ostinato. A repeating musical phrase.

Pizzicato. A violin playing style which involves plucking the strings with fingers instead of bowing.

Presto. A tempo marking, indicating a piece should be played very quickly.

Ritardando. A change in tempo, indicating a gradual slowing down.

Scordatura. The tuning of a stringed instrument differently from its standard tuning, e.g. a violin is tuned to G-D-A-E; the scordatura referenced in Wintersong is the retuning of the strings to G-G-D-D.

Sonata. A musical composition written to be played (as opposed to sung); the definition and form of which has changed over the years.

Sonatinen. The plural of sonatina, or “little (short)” sonatas.

Sotto voce. Not actually a musical term, but it means the dropping of one’s voice for emphasis.

Violoncello. The precursor to the cello.