Glossary of Musical Terms

An elegy (= French: élégie) is a lament, either vocal or instrumental.

The word ensemble is used in three senses. It may refer to the togetherness of a group of performers: if ensemble is poor, the players are not together. It may indicate part of an opera that involves a group of singers. It can also mean a group of performers.

An Etude is a study, intended originally for the technical practice of the player. Chopin, Liszt, and later composers elevated the tude into a significant piece of music, no mere exercise.