Exam Relevant Flashcards
Presto
Very fast
Sempre
Always
Rallentando
Gradually become slower
Allegro assai
Very lively and fast
Dolce
Sweetly
Sforzando
A strong accent
Calando
Getting softer and slower
Adagio
Slowly
Diminuendo
Gradually become softer
Sotto voce
Softly in an undertone
Perdendosi
Fading away
Ritenuto
Immediately slower/held back
Mordent
rapid alternation between an indicated note, the note above or below (lower mordent), and the indicated note again
C/D C
Turn
the note above the one indicated, the note itself, the note below the one indicated, and the note itself again
(C) D/C/B/C
Appoggiatura
An added auxiliary note that is important melodically and suspends the principal note by a portion of its time-value, often half
One degree higher or lower than the principal note
Acciacciatura
A shorter variant of the long appoggiatura, where the delay of the principal note is quick. Written using a grace note with an oblique stroke through the stem.
Acciacciatura/appoggiatura difference
Acciacciatura is usually performed before the beat and the emphasis is on the main note, not the grace note. The appoggiatura long or short has the emphasis on the grace note.
Recapitulation
A part of a movement (especially one in sonata form) in which themes from the exposition are restated.
Very marked
Very pronounced, louder/stronger
Martellato
Strongly accented, or hammered out
Staccatissimo
Exaggerated staccato
Fermata
Indicates that the note should be prolonged beyond its normal duration, exactly how much longer is up to the discretion of the performer or conductor
