by Danlee Mitchell and Jack Logan, Ph.D.

The language of music is, unfortunately, not as precise in meaning nor as sharp in distinction as could reasonably be assumed. It consists of a "hodge-podge" of words and phrases that have developed from many different cultures and languages over many centuries. For example, the word lute derives from the Arabic word al-'ud and the word piano is an abbreviation of the Italian word fortepiano (meaning loud/soft and originating during a time when the instrument was first developed and made distinct in name from another instrument, the harpsichord, which could not play both loud and soft).

Glenn Gould's Piano

Like all language musical language continues to evolve with both words and phrases being added and deleted irregularly to form a unique realm of human understanding.