| Term | Definition |
|---|
| a tempo | return to previous tempo |
| accelerando | becoming quicker |
| accent | stressed note or chord |
| adagio | a slow tempo (between andante and largo) |
| ad libitum | at liberty of the performer |
| agitato | agitated |
| alla, all; | in the manner of |
| allargando | broadening, becoming slower |
| allegretto | fairly fast |
| allegro | fast |
| andante | moderately slowly; at a walking pace |
| andantino | a little faster than andante |
| animato | lively, animated |
| arco | for stringed instruments: resume bowing after a pizzicato passage |
| assai | much, very much |
| attacca | proceed without a break |
| ben, bene | well |
| bewegt | agitated, excited |
| blues scale | a major scale in which the 3rd , the 7th, and sometimes the 5th degrees are lowered |
| brilliante | brilliant |
| cantabile | in a singing style |
| clusters | chords consisting of a combination of at least three adjacent notes of any scale |
| col | with |
| comodo | at a comfortable, easy tempo |
| con | with |
| con brio | with vigour or spirit |
| con espressione | with expression |
| con fuoco | with fire |
| con grazia | with grace |
| con moto | with movement |
| con pedale | with pedal |
| con sordino | with mute |
| crescendo | becoming louder |
| da capo | from the beginning |
| dal segno | from the sign |
| decrescendo | becoming softer |
| diminuendo | becoming softer |
| dolce | sweet |
| dolente | sad |
| ed | and |
| espressivo | expression; with expression |
| fermata | pause; hold note or rest longer than written value |
| fine | the end |
| forte | loud |
| fortepiano | loud, then suddenly soft |
| fortissimo | very loud |
| giocoso | humorous, joyful |
| grandioso | grand, grandiose |
| grave | slow and solemn |
| grazioso | graceful |
| langsam | slow |
| largamente | broadly |
| larghetto | not as slow as largo |
| largo | very slow and broad |
| legato | smoothly |
| leger | light, lightly |
| leggiero | light, nimble, quick |
| lentement | slowly |
| lento | slow |
| l'istesso tempo | the same tempo |
| loco | return to normal register |
| ma | but |
| maestoso | majestic |
| mano destra | right hand |
| mano sinistra | left hand |
| marcato | marked or stressed |
| martellato | strongly accented, hammered |
| massig | moderate, moderately |
| meno | less |
| meno mosso | less movement |
| mesto | sad, mournful |
| mezzo forte | moderately loud |
| mezzo piano | moderately soft |
| mit | with |
| mit ausdruck | with expression |
| M.M. | metronome marking (Maelzel's Metronome) |
| moderato | at a moderate tempo |
| modere | at a moderate tempo |
| molto | much, very |
| morendo | dying, fading away |
| mouvement | tempo, motion |
| non | not |
| non troppo | not too much |
| ottava | the interval of an octave |
| octatonic scale | an eight note scale consisting a strict alternation of tones and semitones |
| pedale | pedal |
| pentatonic scale | a five note scale |
| pesante | weighty, with empasis |
| piano | soft |
| pianissimo | very soft |
| piu | more |
| piu mosso | more movement |
| pizzicato | for stringed instruments: pluck the string instead of bowing |
| poco | little |
| poco a poco | little by little |
| polychords | a combination of two or more different chords |
| presto | very fast |
| prestissimo | as fast as possible |
| primo | first (the upper part of a duet) |
| prima volta | first time |
| quartal chords | chords built on a series of 4ths |
| quasi | almost |
| rallentando | slowing down |
| repeat signs | repeat the music between the signs |
| ritardando | slowing down gradually |
| ritenuto | suddenly slower |
| rubato | a flexible tempo using slight variations of speed to enhance musical expression |
| scherzando | playful |
| schnell | fast |
| secondo | second (the lower part of a duet) |
| seconda volta | second time |
| sehr | very |
| semplice | simple |
| sempre | always; continuously |
| senza | without |
| seventh chord | chords consisting of a root, 3rd, 5th, and 7th |
| sforzando | a sudden strong accent of a single note or chord |
| simile | continue in the same manner as indicated |
| slur | play the notes legato |
| sonore | sonorous |
| sostenuto | sustained |
| sotto voce | softly, under the breath |
| staccato | sharply detached |
| strepitoso | boisterous; noisy |
| stringendo | pressing, becoming faster |
| subito | suddenly |
| tacet | be silent |
| tempo | speed at which music is performed |
| Tempo primo | return to the original tempo |
| tenuto | held, sustained |
| tie | hold for the combined value of the notes |
| tranquillo | quiet, tranquil |
| tre corde | three strings: release the left piano pedal |
| triad | chord consisting of a root, 3rd, and 7th |
| troppo | too much |
| tutti | a passage for the entire ensemble |
| una corda | one string: depress the left piano pedal |
| vite | fast |
| vivace | lively, brisk |
| vivo | lively |
| volta | time |
| volta subito | turn the page quickly |
Combine with other sets
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