Pronouncing Dictionary of Musical Terms

How to say it as well as what it means: every Italian, German and French musical term of 1896, respelled phonetically for the student.

K

11 terms in this part of Pronouncing Dictionary of Musical Terms.

Kent Bugle

A wind instrument generally made of copper, with cup-shaped mouthpiece, furnished with keys. Keraulophon [from Gr., keras, horn; aulos…

Kettle-drum

A half-sphere of copper, the head made of vellum, which may be tightened or loosened by means of screws or braces. The kettle-drum is the…

Key

(1) A series of sounds forming a major or minor scale. See Scale. (2) A piece of mechanism by means of which the ventages of certain wind…

Keynote

The sound or letter with which any given scale begins; tonic. See Scale. Kinderscenen (Ger.) (kin-der - stsa - nen).

Kirchenton

Kellogg, Clara Louisa. Singer; U. S. A. Kerl, J. C. (kerl). Composer, organist; Bavaria. B. 1628; d. 1690.

Key-signa- English

C-major A-minor C dur A moll Ut majeur La mineur Do maggiore La minore } Natural key. # G-major G dur E-minor E moll Sol majeur Mi mineur…

Kalamaika (ka-la-my-ka) – Klavierauszug

A Hungarian dance; rapid time. Chamber.

Klaviermässig

Kittl, J. F. Organist; Bohemia. B. 1806; d. 1868. Kjerulf, Halfdan (keeroolf, hofdan). Composer; Norway. B. 1815; d. 1868. Klein, Michel R…

Knee-stop

A lever controlled by the knees of the performer, used in the harmonium or cabinet organ either to operate the swell or to put on or off…

Kräftig (Ger.)

Kontski, A. de (kont-skee). Composer, pianist; Poland. B. 1817. Kontski, Appolinaire. Violinist; Poland. B. 1825; d. 1879.

Kurz (Ger.) (koorts)

Kurz und bestimmt. Short and emphatic. Kyrie [Gr., Lord]. The first word of the mass; used as a name for the first division.

Rights & ReuseThe complete text of Pronouncing Dictionary of Musical Terms (1896) is in the public domain in the United States — like all works published before 1928 — and is free to read, download, quote, teach from, and reuse. This digital edition (its transcription, restored images, and site design) is © 2026 PhotoOpAI, and any editorial commentary we add is clearly marked as ours; the underlying public-domain text carries no such restriction.