MUSICAL TERMS |
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I. The Pace of Music [ back to top ]
| Grave | very slowly and solemnly |
| Largo | very slowly |
| Lento | slowly |
| Adagio | very slowly |
| Larghetto | not so slowly as largo |
| Andante | rather slowly and gently |
| Andantino | not as slowly as andante |
| Moderato | at a moderate pace |
| Allegretto | not too fast |
| Allegro | merrily, quickly |
| Tempo commodo | at a convenient pace |
| Tempo ordinario | in ordinary time |
| Con moto | with motion, quickly |
| Vivace | with life, swiftly |
| Presto | very fast |
| Prestissimo | as fast as possible |
II. Alteration in the Pace [ back to top ]
| Accelerando | gradually increase the speed |
| Affrettando | increasing the speed suddenly |
| Ad libitum or ad lib | at the performers liberty |
| A piacere | at the performers pleasure |
| A tempo, tempo primo, or Ima | return to the original pace |
| Calando | decreasing in time and tone gradually |
| Rallentando, or rall. | gradually slower |
| Ritardando, or rit. | gradually slower |
| Ritenuto, or riten. | suddenly slower |
| Slentando | gradually slower |
| Stringendo | increasing in pace suddenly |
| L'istesso tempo | in the same time |
| Tempo rubato | in robbed time |
III. Expression or Force [ back to top ]
| Pianissimo or pp | very softly |
| Piano or p | softly |
| Mezzo-piano or mp | moderately softly |
| Mezzo-forte or mf | moderately loudly |
| Forte or f | loudly |
| Fortissimo or ff | very loudly |
| Forte-piano or fp | loudly, then softly immediately |
| Crescendo or cresc | gradually louder |
| Decrescendo, decresc., diminuendo, dim. | gradually softer |
| Morendo, smorzndo, or perdosi | dying away in time and tone |
| Dolce | sweetly |
| Docissimo | very softly and sweetly |
| Sforzando, sforzato, forzato, or sf. | strongly accented |
| Allargando | gradually broadening out in style |
IV. Style in Performance (alphabetical order) [ back to top ]
| Alla marcia | in the style of a march |
| Alla polacca | in the style of a polonaise |
| Alla tedesca | in the German style |
| Alla breve, or a capella | in church style |
| Affetuoso | affectionately |
| Agitato | in an agitated manner |
| Amabile | amiably, or agreeably |
| Appassionatta | impassioned |
| a poco a poco | little by little |
| Amoroso, or con amore | lovingly |
| Arioso | in a gracious or vocal style |
| Assai | very |
| Attacca | go on immediately - no pause |
| Ben marcato | well marked |
| Brilliante | brilliantly |
| Cantabile | in a singing style |
| Col or colla | with the |
| Col arco | with the bow (stringed instruments) |
| Colla voce | following the voice part |
| Con anima or animato | with animation |
| Con brio | with vigor or brightness |
| Con espressione | with expression |
| Con forza | with force |
| Con gusto | with taste |
| Con moto or con spirito | with spirit |
| Con tenerezza | with tenderness |
| Con passione | with passion |
| Con sordino | with the mute |
| Deciso | with precision |
| Dal segno (D.S.) | repeat from the sign |
| Da capo (D.C.) | repeat from the beginning |
| Dolce | sweetly |
| Dolcissimo | as sweetly as possible |
| Dolente, doloroso, or con dolore | with grief |
| E or ed | and |
| Energico | with energy or force |
| E poi | and then |
| Espressivo | with expression |
| Fieramente | with energy or fire |
| Forza | force |
| Fuoco | fire |
| Furioso | with fury |
| Giocoso | gaily |
| Giusto or tempo giusto | in exact time |
| Grandioso | grandly |
| Grazioso | gracefully |
| Il or la | the |
| Lamentoso | mournfully |
| Legato | smoothly |
| Leggiero | lightly |
| Lusingando | enticingly |
| Ma | but |
| Maestoso | with majesty |
| Marcato | well marked |
| Martellato | hammered, with much force |
| Meno | less |
| Mesto | sadly or mournfully |
| Mezzo or mezza | half |
| Mezza voce | with restraint |
| Molto | much, or very |
| Mosso | motion |
| Non | not |
| Ossia | or |
| Parlante | in a speaking style |
| Pastorale | in a quiet manner |
| Pesante | heavily |
| Piacevole | plaintively |
| Piu | more |
| Pizzicato | with plucked strings |
| Poco | little |
| Quasi | as if, or like |
| Replica or repetizione | repeat |
| Risoluto | boldly |
| Scherzo, or scherzando | playfully |
| Sempre | without |
| Senza | without |
| Senza ped | without pedal |
| Simile | like |
| Soave | gently |
| Solo | alone |
| Sostenuto | sustained |
| Sotto voce | in a subdued manner |
| Strepitoso | in a boisterous manner |
| Sul | near |
| Sul ponticello | near the bridge (stringed instruments) |
| Stretto | pressing on quickly |
| Staccato | in a detached manner |
| Tanto | so much |
| Tacet | silence |
| Tema | theme or melody |
| Tenuto, or ten | to hold |
| Tranquillo | tranquilly |
| Troppo | too much |
| Tutti | all parts |
| Una corda | with soft pedal |
| Veloce or Vivo | rapidly |
| Volta | time |
| Volti subito (V.S.) | turn over quickly |