Musical terms
The 'devil in music': the musical trick once thought so dangerous that it was banned outright
For centuries, the tritone - a musical interval spanning three whole tones - has added tension, drama and mystery to music by everyone from Bach to Bernstein
What is a symphony? | Inside the symphony: everything you need to know about one of music's quintessential building blocks
Haydn wrote more than 100. Brahms wrote four, all amazing. Mahler put the whole world into his. All you need to know about the symphony
Musical keys: what they are, and what each one means in music
Composers use musical keys to ‘flavour’ their music in a particular way. But how do keys work their peculiar magic? And what particular mood does each key evoke?
Why's that tune stuck in your head? The science behind earworms
What are earworms? Are they common and how do I get rid of them? Read on to discover more about this annoying musical phenomenon...
Rubato: a guide to the musical term meaning 'robbed time'
'Robbed time'? Eh? Stephen Johnson gets to grips with another of classical music's technical terms
Gregorian chant: the foundation of Western sacred music - and a source of deep calm and spirituality
All you need to know about this early form of religious music, whose calm and spiritual qualities have spawned some hit recordings
Music modes: the building blocks of mood and atmosphere in music
Modes are a series of seven musical scales, each with their own unique qualities and sound
What are microtones? The tiny building blocks of all music...
Though we may not always realise it, microtones – intervals of smaller than a semitone – are all around us when we listen to music, explains Tom Service
Tempo: a guide to one of music's most essential elements
Do you know your Adagio from your Allegro? Here’s a quick explanation of the musical term 'tempo' and a whistle-stop tour of the various tempi, with some famous examples for each
What makes a violin sound like that? Introducing timbre, one of music's fundamental building blocks
Our guide to timbre: a crucial source of colour and variety in music
The fugue: a guide to one of classical music's most dazzling effects
Stephen Johnson unpacks the fugue, one of classical music's most sophisticated and often awesome musical effects
Chamber music: a quick guide. Plus, six wonderful chamber works to get you started
What defines a piece of music as 'chamber music' - and where should you start your chamber music journey?
Time signature: what is it and why is it so crucial in music?
Stephen Johnson gets to grips with classical music's technical terms. This time: the all-important time signature
Muzak: the fascinating story of music's much-derided kid brother
Banal at its best, stress-inducing at its worst, the phenomenon of background muzak can be traced largely to one man. John Evans tells the sorry tale
Circle of fifths: your key to understanding musical harmony
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
Serialism: a guide to classical music's most divisive musical technique
Serialism: just what was it and why was it so divisive in classical music circles? Stephen Johnson explains
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 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