Definitions Flashcards
1
Q
Accelerando (or accel.)
A
Gradually getting quicker
2
Q
Adagio
A
Slow
3
Q
Allegretto
A
Fairly quick
4
Q
Allegro
A
Quick (literally ‘cheerful’)
5
Q
Andante
A
At a medium (‘walking’) speed
6
Q
Cantabile
A
In a singing style
7
Q
Crescendo (or cresc.)
A
Gradually getting louder
8
Q
Da capo (or D.C.)
A
Repeat from the beginning
9
Q
Dal segno (or D.S.)
A
Repeat from the symbol
10
Q
Decrescendo (or decresc.)
A
Gradually getting quieter
11
Q
Diminuendo (or dim.)
A
Gradually getting quieter
12
Q
Fine
A
The end
13
Q
Forte
A
Loud
14
Q
Fortissimo
A
Very loud
15
Q
Legato
A
Smoothly
16
Q
Lento
A
Slow
17
Q
Mezzo
A
Half
18
Q
Mezzo forte
A
Moderately loud (literally ‘half’ loud)
19
Q
Mezzo piano
A
Moderately quiet (literally ‘half’ quiet)
20
Q
Moderato
A
Moderately (allegro moderato means moderately quick)
21
Q
Piano
A
Quiet
22
Q
Pianissimo
A
Very quiet
23
Q
Poco
A
A little
24
Q
Rallentando (or rall.)
A
Gradually getting slower
25
Ritardando (or ritard. or rit.)
Gradually getting slower
26
Ritenuto (or riten. or rit.)
Held back
27
Staccato (or stacc.)
Detached
28
Tempo
Speed, time (a tempo means in time)
