copyright
© 1997 by Larry Solomon
a. to, at, in
a capella. without instrumental accompaniment
acciaccato. vehemently
accaciatura. 1. a short accented appoggiatura, 2. a note a second above struck with the principal note and instantly released.
accelerando. getting faster
accordatura. the "tuning" or series of tones by which a string insytrument is tuned.
adagietto. slightly faster than adagio
adagissimo. extremely slowly
adagio. slowly, liesurely
a deux. for two hands
adirato. angry, wrathful
ad libitum. not strictly in time, freely
affettuoso. with feeling and emotion
affabilmente. sweetly and gracefully; suavely
affannato. uneasily, distressfully
affettuoso. with passion, emotion, feeling; very expressively; tenderly
afflitto. melancholy, sad
agitato. agitated
agilita. with agility, sprightly
al fine. to the end
alla. in the style of
alla breve. () "cut-time"; two beats per measure, a half note gets a beat
allargando (allarg.). getting slower and louder
allegrettino. a little slower than allegretto
allegretto. somewhat faster than a moderate tempo
allegro. fast
allentato. slower
altieramente. in a lofty style
amabile. sweet, tender
amoroso. affectionately
andante. a walking pace, moderate
andantino. somewhat faster than andante
animato. animated, with spirit
animoso. animated, spirited
a piacere. at pleasure, freely
appassionato. with passion and emotion
appoggiatura. a grace-note falling on the beat (accented), taking from the time of the following principal note.
arco. with the bow
arditto. bold, spirited
aria. an air, song, tune, melody
arioso. a singing style between an aria and a recitative, having some of the qualities of both
arpeggio. notes of a chord played consecutively, i.e. one at a time
assai. very
assez. (Fr.) enough; rather
a tempo. in the original tempo
attaca. begin the next section without pause
avec. (Fr) with
a volonte. at pleasure
Barcarole. A Venitian boat song
bassa. low. 8va bass is to play the bass an octave lower
bel canto. The art of beautiful singing; virtuosic singing of 18th and 19th century Italy
ben or bene. well
bewegt. (Ger) moving, agitated
bis. twice; repeat the passage
bolero. (Sp) A Spanish dance in 3/4 and a lively tempo, often with a dancer accompanied with castenets
Bratsche. (Ger) viola
bravura. boldness
breve. a square note equal to two whole notes
brillante. brilliant
brio. vigor, spirit
cadenza. an elaborate solo passage, frequently unaccompanied
calando. gradually softer and slower
cantabile. in a singing style
capriccio. in a fanciful, capricious style
coda. a closing section
con, col. with
con anima. with animation and boldness
con brio. with vigor and brilliancy
con espressione. with expression
con fuoco. with fire and passion
con moto. with motion
con sprito. with spirit and energy
crescendo. increasing in loudness
da, dal. from
da capo (D.C.). from the beginning
D.C. al fine. from the beginning to the word Fine
dal segno (D.S.). from the sign to the word Fine
decrescendo (decresc.). decreasing in loudness
diminuendo (dim). gradually softer
divisi (div). divided; each part to be played by a separate instrument
dolce. sweetly
dolcissimo. very sweetly
dolore. sorrow, sadness
doloroso. sadly
e. and
elegante. elegant, graceful
energico. energetic, vigorous
espressivo. expressively
fermata. a pause or hold
finale. the last movement
fine. the end
forte (f). loud
forte-piano (fp). accented, then immediately soft
fortissimo (ff). very loud
forza. force, power, strength
forzando (fz). strongly accented
fuoco. fire, energy
furioso. furious
giocoso. humorous
giojoso. joyous
giusto. exact, in time
glissando. gliding together, running
grandioso. in a grand manner
grave. solemnly and very slowly
grazioso. gracefully
gruppetto. a group of grace-notes; a turn
il. the
impetuoso. impetuous
lamentoso. lamenting, sad
largamente. broadly
larghetto. slowly, but not as slow as largo
largo. very slow, broad
legato. in a smooth, connected manner, indicated by the slur
leggiero. lightly
lento. slow
l'istesso tempo. at the tempo of the previous passage or movement
loco. as written
ma. but
ma non troppo. but not too much so
maestoso. majestic, dignified
maggiore. the major key
marcato. in a marked, emphatic style
marcia. a march
marziale. in a martial style
meno. less
meno mosso. less motion; slower
mezzo. medium, half
mezzo forte (mf). moderately loud
mezzo piano (mp). moderately soft
minore. in the minor key
misterioso. mysteriously
moderato. moderate tempo
molto. much, very
mordent. an embellishment of two or more notes that make up a short trill
morendo. dying away; softer and softer
mosso. movement
moto. motion
non. not
non tanto. not too much
obbligato. a counter-melody which is in counterpoint to the main theme and continues throughout the composition
opus. a work or composition; the chronological number of a work
ossia. otherwise; or else; another way to play the passage
ottava (8va). to be played an octave higher or lower
passionato. with passion
patetico. pathetically
penderosi. gradually softer and slower; dying away
pianissimo (pp). very softly
piano (p). softly
piu. more
piu mosso. more movement, faster
poco. a little
poco a poco. little by little
pomposo. pompous; grand
prestissimo. as fast as possible
presto. very fast
primo. the first
quasi. like; in the style of
rallentando (rall.). gradually slower
recitativo (recit.); in the style of a recitative; like natural speech
replica. repetition
rinforzando (rfz.). reinforced; emphasized
risoluto. in a resolute and bold manner
ritardando (rit). retarding; slowing
ritenuto (riten). in a slower tempo; held back
rubato. freely played, improvisatory with time
scherzando. playfully
segue. continues
semplice. in a simple, unaffected manner
sempre. always, continually
senza. without
sforzando (sfz). with sudden force or emphasis
simile. similarly; in a like manner
smorzando (smorz). extinguished; suddenly dying away
sordino (sord). a mute, such as used for the violin or trumpet
sostenuto (sos). sustained
sotto voce. in a quiet, subdued tone
staccato. detached; cut short
stringendo (string.). pressing; accelerating the tempo
subito. immediately, suddenly
tacet. to be silent; do not play
tempo. rate of speed
tenuto (ten). held for the full time
tranquillo. quietly, calmly
tremolo. rapid repetition of a note or chord to produce a tremulous sound
trill. a rapid alternation of the printed note and the next note above
troppo. too much
tutti. all together
un. a, one, an
vivace. lively, briskly
vivo. animated, quick
Tucson, 1997
