Dictionary of Musical Terms
Terms Related to DYNAMICS
(Listed in order from very soft to very loud)
PIANISSIMO
PIANO
MEZZO
MEZZO PIANO
MEZZO FORTE
FORTE
FORTISSIMO
DIMINUENDO
CRESCENDO
POCO A POCO
ACCENT
SFORZANDO
SFORZATO
SUBITO
(Abbreviated: pp) Very soft
(Abbreviated: p) Soft
Medium or moderately
(Abbreviated: mp) Medium soft
(Abbreviated: mf) Moderately loud
(Abbreviated: f) Loud
(Abbreviated: ff) Very loud
(Abbreviated: dim. or the sign
) Gradually getting softer
(Abbreviated: cresc. or the sign
) Gradually getting louder
“Little by little;” indicates a gradual increase or decrease in volume of
sound (e.g. CRESC. POCO A POCO means to increase the volume
gradually)
A stress on marked notes
(Abbreviated: sfz) A strongly accented note or chord
(Abbreviated: sfp) Strongly accented then immediately PIANO
Suddenly; usually used to indicate a dramatically sudden change in
dynamic level of sound (e.g. from pp to SUBITO ff)
Terms Related to STYLE
AGITATO
ALLA
CON
ANIMATO
APPASSIONATO
BRILLANTE
BRIO
CANTABILE
DOLCE
ENERGICO, CON
FUOCO, CON
GRANDIOSO
GRAZIA, CON
LEGATO
MAESTOSO
MARCATO
PESANTE
QUASI
SCHERZANDO
SCHERZO
SECCO
SEMPRE
SPIRITO, CON
STACCATO
TENUTO
TRANQUILLO
With agitation; excitedly
In the style of… (always used with other words) (e.g. ALLA MARCIA means in the style of a march)
With (as a connecting word) (e.g. ANDANTE CON AMORE means slowly, with tenderness
With animation, in a spirited manner
With intensity and depth of feeling
Bright, sparkling, brilliant
Vigor, spirit
In a singing style
Sweetly and softly
With expression
With fire or much energy
In a noble, elevated style
With a graceful, flowing style
Smooth and connected, in a flowing manner (opposite of STACCATO)
With majesty and grandeur
In a marked and emphatic style
Heavily, every note with marked emphasis
In the manner of… (e.g. QUASI UNA FANTASIA means in the style of a fantasia)
In a light, playful, and sportive manner
A jest, one of the movements of certain symphonies, a composition of light and playful character
Dry, plain, without ornamentation
Always (e.g. SEMPRE STACCATO means to continue playing in a short and detached style)
With spirit or animation
Short and detached, with distinct precision (opposite of LEGATO)
Sustained for the full time value
With tranquility; quietly, restfully
Combinations of Tempo and Style Terms
(NOTE: Many more combinations are possible.)
LARGO MA NON TROPPO
ADAGIO CANTABILE E
SOSTENUTO
ANDANTINO, CON
AFFETUOSO
ALLEGRETTO CON GRAZIA
ALLEGRO AGITATO
POCO PIU MOSSO
ALLEGRO CON MOLTO
SPIRITO
ANDANTE MAESTOSO
PRESTO CON LEGGIEREZZA
(“MA” – but) Slow, but not too slow
(“E” – and) Very slow and in a sustained and singing style
Faster than ANDANTE, with tender feeling
A moving tempo with a graceful, flowing style
Quick with agitation
A little quicker
Fast with much spirit
A rather slow moving tempo with majestic feeling
Very fast with lightness and delicacy
Terms Related to TEMPO
(Listed in order from very slow to very fast)
GRAVE
LARGO
LENT or LENTO
ADAGIO
LARGHETTO
ANDANTE
ANDANTINO
MODERATO
ALLEGRETTO
Very slow and solemn
Very slow and broad, with dignity
Very slow
Very slow and expressive
Not as slow as LARGO, but slower than ANDANTE
Rather slow, but with a flowing movement (“walking tempo”)
A little quicker than ANDANTE
Moderate speed – not fast, not slow
Light and cheerful, but not as fast as ALLEGRO
ALLEGRO
VIVO
VIVACE
PRESTO
“Merry,” quick, lively, and bright
Lively, brisk (usually with ALLEGRO as “ALLEGRO VIVO”)
Vivacious, faster than ALLEGRO
Very quick, faster than VIVACE
Terms Related to CHANGE OF TEMPO
ACCELERANDO
STRINGENDO
AFFRETTANDO
ALLARGANDO
RITARDANDO
RALLENTANDO
RUBATO
A TEMPO
TEMPO I (PRIMO)
(Abbreviated: accel.) To increase the speed gradually
(Abbreviated: string.) To increase intensity by increasing tempo
To increase the speed gradually
(Abbreviated: allarg.) Slower and louder
(Abbreviated: Ritard. or Rit.) Gradually slackening the speed
(Abbreviated: Rall.) Slowing down, gradually
Literally means “robbed;” a lingering on some notes and the hurrying of others; free from strict tempo but
preserving the value of rhythmic notation
Return to the original tempo after a RITARD
Return to the original tempo after a RITARD
Words that Often Accompany TEMPO Markings
MOLTO
MENO
PIU
NON
TROPPO
POCO A POCO
Very much (e.g. MOLTO RITARD means to slow down exceedingly)
Less (e.g. MENO MOSSO means less fast = slower)
More
Not too much (e.g. ALLEGRO NON TROPPO means fast, but not too fast)
Too fast
Literally “little by little” (e.g. ACCEL. POCO A POCO means to increase the speed gradually over a span of
measures)
Miscellaneous Terms
ACCIDENTALS
Flats and double flats, naturals, sharps and double sharps
ALLA BREVE
ARPEGGIO
ATTACCA
CADENCE
CADENZA
CHROMATIC
CODA
DA CAPO
DAL SENGO
DIVISI
FERMATA
FINE
GLISSANDO
G.P.
SEGUE
SENZA
SORDINO
TACET
V.S.
“Cut time” ( ) The half-note is the unit of the meter
A broken chord (each note of the chord is played in succession)
Begin the next movement immediately
The close or ending of a phase
An elaborate solo passage with fancy embellishments to display the proficiency of the performer
Proceeding by semitones
Literally “a tail;” the closing measures of a piece of music
(Abbreviated: D.C.) From the beginning
(Abbreviated: D.S.) To the sign
Divided; one performer plays the upper notes and the other plays the lower notes
A pause whose length is determined by the director (
)
The end
To slide between two notes (only on trombone)
General Pause; a dramatic moment of silence for the entire ensemble
To the next piece without pause
Without (e.g. SENZA SORDINO means without mute)
A mute (used by brass players)
Be silent
Volti-subito; an abbreviation found at the lower right corner of a music page that means to turn the page
quickly