Grade 1 Italian Terms Flashcards
Andante
a moderate walking pace
piano
p
soft
forte
f
loud
legato
smoothly, connected
staccato
separated, detached
moderato
at a moderate pace, slightly faster than andante
mezzo forte
mf
moderately loud
allegro
at a lively tempo
pianissimo
pp
very soft
adagio
at ease, unhurried
arrange the slower tempi in order of speed
adagio–andante–moderato
accelerando
accel.
gradually increasing in tempo
a tempo
return to the original tempo
ritardando/rallentando
rit./rall.
gradually becoming slower
tempo primo
return to the original tempo
mezzo piano
mp
moderately soft
ritenuto
immediate slowing of tempo
crescendo
cresc.
gradually becoming louder
descrescendo
decresc.
gradually becoming softer
lento
slow
slower than adagio
presto
quick
faster than allegro
fortissimo
ff
very loud
allegretto
moderately lively (a little less lively than allegro)
vivace
vivacious or lively
faster than allegro but not as fast as presto
allegretto
moderately lively
a little less lively than allegro
sforzando/sforzato
sf, sfz
forced, a strong accent
rinforzando/rinforzato
rf, rfz
reinforced, a less heavy accent
tenuto
held, indicating the note should be held for its full value
often a caution against playing staccato
