Grade 5 Italian Flashcards
a due, a 2
For 2 performers or instruments (in orchestral or band music, it means that a part is to be played in unison by 2 instruments)
alla marcia
In the style of a march
alt
High
In alt
Used in vocal music to refer to notes in the octave above the treble stave, starting with the G
In altissimo
In the octave above that
al tallone
Use the bow (of a string instrument) at the heel, i.e. the end held by the player
Amoroso
Loving
A piacere
At pleasure, the performer is not bound to follow the given rhythm exactly
A punto d’arco
Use the bow at the point, i.e. the end opposite to that held by the player
Arco
Bow of string instrument, a direction after pizzicato
attacca
go straight on, indicating an immediate move to the next section of music
bis
Twice, indicating the repetition of a short passage
Bravura
Skill, brilliance
Con bravura
In a brilliant style
Brilliante
Brilliant
calmato
calm, tranquil
capriccioso
In a whimsical, fanciful style
Colla parte
Keep with the soloist, a direction to an accompanist
Colla voce
Keep with the singer, a direction to an accompanist
Col legno
With the wood, a direction to a string player to play with the wood of the boy rather than with the hair
Coll’ ottava
With the octave, a direction to a keyboard player to double notes an octave higher, or lower if ‘bassa’ is added
Corda, corde
Strings
Da
From
divisi, div.
Divided, a direction to orchestral players (usually strings) to divide into 2 or more groups
dolente
sad, mournful
Dolore, duolo
Grief
Doloroso
Sorrowful
doppio movimento
Twice as fast
eguale
Equal
Expressione
Expression
Estinto
As soft as possible, lifeless
Felice
Happy
Feroce
Fierce
fine
End
Flautato, flautando
Flute-like, a direction for natural harmonics on string instruments
Flessibile
Flexible, not in a strict tempo
fretta
Haste
Giojoso
Joyful, merry
Grandioso
Grandly
Impetuoso
Impetuous
Incalzando
Getting quicker (literally: pressing forward)
Inquieto
Restless
in relievo
Prominent (lit: ‘in relief), a direction to make melody stand out
Lacrimoso, lagrimando, lagrimoso
Sad (lit. ‘Tearful’)
Lamentoso
Lamenting
lento
slow
Lentement
Slowly
liberamente
Freely
Licenza
License, freedom
Con alcuna licenza
With some freedom, particularly with regard to tempo and rhythm
Loco
At the normal pitch (used to cancel an 8va direction, or to confirm that one is not intended)
Lontano
Distant
Lugubre
Mournful
Lunga
Long