Music Terms Flashcards
blahh
a capella
without accompaniment
ad libitum (ad lib)
at performer’s liberty
adagio
slowly
alla breve
cut time, with a minim beat
allargando
gradually slower and broader
allegro
fast, brisk
allegretto
fairly fast (slower than allegro)
andante
walking speed
andantino
moderately fast (faster than andante, slower than allegretto)
arco
bow
assai
“very” (example: assai staccato = very detached)
attacca
without break
a tempo
original tempo
breve
2 whole notes
cantabile
singing
come prima
as before
come sopra
as above
con
with
con fuoco
with fire
crescendo
gradually becoming louder
da capo (D.C.)
from the head or beginning. Go back to the top
dal segno (D.S.)
go back and play from the sign
dolce
sweetly
espressivo
expressive
fermata
a hold or pause sign that indicates a note or rest should be held longer than its original duration
fine
end
giusto
exact, strict
grave
slow, heavy, solemn
grazioso
grace
largo
very slow and broad
leggiero
light, delicate
molto rubato
a lot of rhythmic manipulation and nuance
l’istesso
the same
laissez vibrer (l.v.)
let vibrate
loco
play as written. usually follows a passage with 8va or 8vb. Means “place”
lunga
long
ma
but
ma non troppo
but not too much
maestro
a title given to respected composers, conductors, teachers
meno
less
molto
very
mosso
moved, agitated
piu
More
misura
bar, measure
siempre
always
senza misura
without measures
moderato
in a moderate tempo
a niente or N.
nothing, silence
subito
suddenly
pesante
heavy
possible
????
quasi
as if, almost
rallentando, rall.
becoming gradually slower
scordatura
changing the standard tuning of one or more strings on a stringed instrument in order to play unusual chords, difficult passages, or to alternate tone color
semplice
Simple
simile
continue to perform in the same style
sostenuto
sustained
staccato
short, detached
troppo
too, or too much
volti subito, or V.S.
Turn quickly, in orchestral parts this indicates to turn the page quickly
