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Nachschlag

An ornament consisting of an unaccented note or notes at the end of the main note, or at the end of a trill.

Nachtmusik

“Night Music.” A serenade.

natural

The music symbol that indicates that a note is neither sharp nor flat. When placed to the left of the note, it cancels a previous

accidental.

neoclassical

Neoclassical style in music indicates a 20th century eclectic return by some composers to various styles and forms of earlier periods, whether classical or baroque. The style is exemplified in the score for the ballet Pulcinella by Stravinsky or by the same composer's opera The Rake's Progress.

Neopolitan sixth

A chord constructed on the fourth degree of a diatonic scale with a minor third and a minor sixth above the bass.

ninth

The interval of nine diatonic degrees (an octave and a second).

nocturne

A night-piece, or serenade.

nonet

A nonet is a composition for nine performers.

nonharmonic notes

Notes that are not part of the chord structure around them.

notation

Written music indicating pitch and rhythm.

note

A note in English is either a single sound or its representation in notation. American English refers to a single sound as a tone, following German practice.