Music Terms Flashcards
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1
Q
a capella
A
without accompaniment
2
Q
ad libitum (ad lib)
A
at performer’s liberty
3
Q
adagio
A
slowly
4
Q
alla breve
A
cut time, with a minim beat
5
Q
allargando
A
gradually slower and broader
6
Q
allegro
A
fast, brisk
7
Q
allegretto
A
fairly fast (slower than allegro)
8
Q
andante
A
walking speed
9
Q
andantino
A
moderately fast (faster than andante, slower than allegretto)
10
Q
arco
A
bow
11
Q
assai
A
“very” (example: assai staccato = very detached)
12
Q
attacca
A
without break
13
Q
a tempo
A
original tempo
14
Q
breve
A
2 whole notes
15
Q
cantabile
A
singing
16
Q
come prima
A
as before
17
Q
come sopra
A
as above
18
Q
con
A
with
19
Q
con fuoco
A
with fire
20
Q
crescendo
A
gradually becoming louder
21
Q
da capo (D.C.)
A
from the head or beginning. Go back to the top
22
Q
dal segno (D.S.)
A
go back and play from the sign
23
Q
dolce
A
sweetly
24
Q
espressivo
A
expressive
25
fermata
a hold or pause sign that indicates a note or rest should be held longer than its original duration
26
fine
end
27
giusto
exact, strict
28
grave
slow, heavy, solemn
29
grazioso
grace
30
largo
very slow and broad
31
leggiero
light, delicate
32
molto rubato
a lot of rhythmic manipulation and nuance
33
l'istesso
the same
34
laissez vibrer (l.v.)
let vibrate
35
loco
play as written. usually follows a passage with 8va or 8vb. Means "place"
36
lunga
long
37
ma
but
38
ma non troppo
but not too much
39
maestro
a title given to respected composers, conductors, teachers
40
meno
less
41
molto
very
42
mosso
moved, agitated
43
piu
More
44
misura
bar, measure
45
siempre
always
46
senza misura
without measures
47
moderato
in a moderate tempo
48
a niente or N.
nothing, silence
49
subito
suddenly
50
pesante
heavy
51
possible
????
52
quasi
as if, almost
53
rallentando, rall.
becoming gradually slower
54
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
55
semplice
Simple
56
simile
continue to perform in the same style
57
sostenuto
sustained
58
staccato
short, detached
59
troppo
too, or too much
60
volti subito, or V.S.
Turn quickly, in orchestral parts this indicates to turn the page quickly
