Italian Music Terms

Question 1

A tempo

Answer 1

in the original tempo

Question 2

A tempo giusto

Answer 2

in strict and exact time

Question 3

Abbandono

Answer 3

unrestrained, free

Question 4

Accelerando

Answer 4

with gradually increasing velocity of movement

Question 5

Acciaccatura

Answer 5

note rapidly “crushed” into principal note

Question 6

Ad libitum

Answer 6

at will, pleasure or discretion

Question 7

Adagio

Answer 7

moderately slow

Question 8

Affettato

Answer 8

affected, artificial

Question 9

Agitato

Answer 9

with agitation, anxiously

Question 10

All

Answer 10

according to

Question 11

Allegramente

Answer 11

gaily, joyously

Question 12

Allegretto

Answer 12

not as fast as allegro

Question 13

Allegro

Answer 13

cheerful, fast, lively

Question 14

Amabile

Answer 14

sweet, agreeable

Question 15

Amoroso

Answer 15

loving, amorous

Question 16

Ancora

Answer 16

yet, still, again

Question 17

Andante

Answer 17

moderately, walking tempo

Question 18

Andantino

Answer 18

somewhat faster than

Question 19

Andante Animato

Answer 19

with animation and spirit

Question 20

Animato

Answer 20

animated

Question 21

Appogiatura

Answer 21

a rhythmically strong dissonant note

Question 22

Aria

Answer 22

on air or song

Question 23

Arioso

Answer 23

in the style of a song

Question 24

Assai

Answer 24

very, extremely

Question 25

Ben

Answer 25

well

Question 26

Brio or Brilliante

Answer 26

brilliant, sparkling, spirited

Question 27

Cadenza

Answer 27

a free fanciful embellished section

Question 28

Calando

Answer 28

softer and usually slower

Question 29

Cantabile

Answer 29

singing style

Question 30

Capo

Answer 30

head or beginning

Question 31

Coda

Answer 31

an added ending

Question 32

Con

Answer 32

with

Question 33

Crescendo

Answer 33

gradually increasing the volume

Question 34

Dal segno

Answer 34

from the sign

Question 35

Decrescendo

Answer 35

gradually decreasing the volume

Question 36

Delicato

Answer 36

delicately

Question 37

Diminuendo

Answer 37

gradually diminishing the volume

Question 38

Dolce

Answer 38

soft, sweet, delicate

Question 39

Dolente/Doloroso

Answer 39

mourful, pathetic

Question 40

Dolore

Answer 40

pain, anguish

Question 41

Eguale

Answer 41

equal, like, uniform

Question 42

Elegante

Answer 42

with elegance

Question 43

Energico

Answer 43

with energy

Question 44

Expressivo

Answer 44

with expression

Question 45

Fine, Fin, or Finale

Answer 45

the end of a movement

Question 46

Fermata

Answer 46

stay, stop, unmeasured pause or hold

Question 47

Forte

Answer 47

strong, loud

Question 48

Fortissimo

Answer 48

very strong, loud

Question 49

Forza

Answer 49

strength, force

Question 50

Fuoco

Answer 50

fire, animation

Question 51

Furioso

Answer 51

passionately, furious

Question 52

Guisto

Answer 52

in strict time

Question 53

Impetuoso

Answer 53

impetuously

Question 54

L’istesso

Answer 54

same

Question 55

Larghetto

Answer 55

slow, but not as slow as largo

Question 56

Largo

Answer 56

very slow

Question 57

Leggiero

Answer 57

light

Question 58

Lento

Answer 58

slow

Question 59

Maestoso

Answer 59

majestically

Question 60

Marcato

Answer 60

in strong marked style

Question 61

Marcia

Answer 61

march

Question 62

Marziale

Answer 62

martial

Question 63

Meno

Answer 63

less

Question 64

Mezzo

Answer 64

Half

Question 65

Moderato

Answer 65

moderately

Question 66

Molto

Answer 66

much or very

Question 67

Morendo

Answer 67

gradually dying away

Question 68

Mosso

Answer 68

motion

Question 69

Non

Answer 69

not

Question 70

Pamposo

Answer 70

Pompus

Question 71

Pesante

Answer 71

Heavily

Question 72

Piacere

Answer 72

at will, with pleasure

Question 73

Piano

Answer 73

soft

Question 74

Pianissimo

Answer 74

very soft

Question 75

Più

Answer 75

more

Question 76

Poco a poco

Answer 76

little by little

Question 77

Poco

Answer 77

a little

Question 78

Precipitato

Answer 78

hurried

Question 79

Prestissimo

Answer 79

as fast as possible

Question 80

Presto

Answer 80

very fast

Question 81

Primo

Answer 81

first

Question 82

Quasi

Answer 82

almost

Question 83

Rallentando

Answer 83

slowing gradually

Question 84

Religioso

Answer 84

Religious

Question 85

Rinforzando

Answer 85

suddenly increasing in power

Question 86

Risoluto

Answer 86

resolved, determined

Question 87

Ritardando

Answer 87

slowing gradually

Question 88

Ritenuto

Answer 88

suddenly slower

Question 89

Rubato

Answer 89

robbed, stolen, deliberate unsteadiness of tempo for the sake of expression

Question 90

Scherzando

Answer 90

Playful, joking

Question 91

Segno

Answer 91

sign

Question 92

Sequre

Answer 92

follows

Question 93

Semplice

Answer 93

simple

Question 94

Sempre

Answer 94

always, throughout

Question 95

Senza

Answer 95

without

Question 96

Sforzando

Answer 96

sudden accent

Question 97

Silenzio

Answer 97

silence

Question 98

Smorzando

Answer 98

slowing and decreasing in volume

Question 99

Solo

Answer 99

alone, performed by a single performer

Question 100

Soli

Answer 100

plural of solo, more than one performer plays

Question 101

Sordino

Answer 101

mute

Question 102

Sostenuto

Answer 102

sustained

Question 103

Sotto

Answer 103

subdued

Question 104

Spirito

Answer 104

with spirit, lively

Question 105

Staccato

Answer 105

short, detached, distinct

Question 106

Strepitoso

Answer 106

loud, noisy

Question 107

Stretto

Answer 107

hurried or speeding up imitation within various parts

Question 108

Stringendo

Answer 108

accelerating the degree of movement

Question 109

Subito

Answer 109

suddenly, at once

Question 110

Tacet

Answer 110

silent

Question 111

Tempo

Answer 111

speed

Question 112

Tenuto

Answer 112

sustained, held, full value notes

Question 113

Troppo

Answer 113

too much

Question 114

Tutti

Answer 114

all, together

Question 115

Vigoroso

Answer 115

vigorously

Question 116

Vivace

Answer 116

quick, lively