Italian Music Terms

Question 1

Largo

Answer 1

Very slow and broadly

TEMPO

Question 2

Sweetly

Answer 2

Dolce

Question 3

Andante

Answer 3

Walking pace

TEMPO

Question 4

Modarate speed

Answer 4

Moderato

TEMPO

Question 5

Fast

Answer 5

Allegro

TEMPO

Question 6

Vivace

Answer 6

Play at 168-180 bpm - lively

TEMPO

Question 7

Very quick

Answer 7

Presto

TEMPO

Question 8

Rubato

Answer 8

“Robbed time” - rhythms are played freely for expressive effect - Tempo Rubato is when the conductor stipulates it
TEMPO

Question 9

Getting slower and broadening

Answer 9

Allargando

TEMPO

Question 10

Immediately slowing down

Answer 10

Ritenuto (rit)

TEMPO

Question 11

Quiet

Answer 11

Piano

DYNAMIC

Question 12

Forte

Answer 12

Loud

DYNAMIC

Question 13

Lively

Answer 13

Vivace

TEMPO

Question 14

Getting faster

Answer 14

Accelerando

TEMPO

Question 15

Rallentando

Answer 15

Getting slower

TEMPO

Question 16

Polyphonic

Answer 16

Many melodies & rhythms played by lots of different people

Question 17

Portamento

Answer 17

Going from a high pitch to low pitch (OR VICE VERSA)

Question 18

Many melodies but only one rhythm

Answer 18

Homophonic

Question 19

Ostinato

Answer 19

A repeated musical phrase

Question 20

Ternary Form (Not Italian but still important)

Answer 20

A-B-A

Question 21

Binary Form

Answer 21

A and B constructed to compliment each other

Question 22

Cadence

Answer 22

The chords/ notes at the end of a section making the piece feel complete (or incomplete)

Question 23

Gradually getting quieter

Answer 23

Diminuendo

DYNAMIC

Question 24

Gradually getting louder

Answer 24

Crescendo

DYNAMIC

Question 25

No key

Answer 25

Atonal

Question 26

Tremolo

Answer 26

A rapid back and forth movement on the same note

ARTICULATION

Question 27

Giocoso

Answer 27

Playfully, lighthearted

Question 28

Adagio

Answer 28

Play at 66 - 76 bpm (a bit fast than largo)

Question 29

Alla marcia

Answer 29

In a marching style

Question 30

Agitato

Answer 30

Aggitated

Question 31

Anacrusis

Answer 31

An unaccented beat at the start of a phrase

Question 32

Calmly

Answer 32

Calmato

Question 33

Smoothly

Answer 33

Legarto

Question 34

Short and abrupt, creating a detached sound

Answer 34

Staccato

ARTICULATION

Question 35

Energetically

Answer 35

Energico

Question 36

ff

Answer 36

Fortissimo - very loud

DYNAMIC

Question 37

Grandly

Answer 37

Grandioso

Question 38

Slide between notes

Answer 38

Glissando

Question 39

40-60 bpm, broad and slow

Answer 39

Largo

TEMPO

Question 40

mp

Answer 40

Mezzo piano - fairly quiet

DYNAMIC

Question 41

In a heavy style

Answer 41

Pesante

Question 42

mf

Answer 42

Mezzo forte - fairly loud

DYNAMIC

Question 43

In a confident, decided way

Answer 43

Risoluto

Question 44

sfz

Answer 44

Sforzando - suddenly getting loud

DYNAMIC

Question 45

Tenuto

Answer 45

Playing the note for its full length, or loger (as long as possible)

Question 46

Trionfale

Answer 46

Confidently

Question 47

Vibrato

Answer 47

When singers make their voices wobble (string instruments can create a similar effect too)
DECORATION

Question 48

Pizzicato

Answer 48

Plucking the strings to create short, detached notes

ARTICULATION

Question 49

Arco

Answer 49

Playing string instruments with a bow, creating a smooth sound
ARTICULATION

Question 50

Anacrusic

Answer 50

A pickup note before the music starts