Music Terms Flashcards
What does ACCELERANDO (accel.) mean?
Becoming QUICKER.
What is an ACCENT?
A STRESSED note.
What does ADAGIO mean?
SLOW.
What does ALLEGRO mean?
FAST.
What does ALLEGRETTO mean?
FAIRLY FAST (a little slower than allegro).
What does ANDANTE mean?
Moderately slow; at a WALKING PACE.
What is ANDANTINO?
A LITTLE FASTER than andante.
What does A TEMPO mean?
It means to RETURN to the ORIGINAL TEMPO.
What does CANTABILE mean?
In a SINGING style.
What does CRESCENDO (cresc.) mean?
BECOMING LOUDER.
What does DA CAPO (D.C.) mean?
It means FROM THE BEGINNING.
What does DAL SEGNO (D.S.)mean?
FROM THE SIGN.
What does D.C. al Fine mean?
It means REPEAT FROM THE BEGINNING AND END AT FINE.
What is DECRESCENDO (decresc.)?
It means BECOMING SOFTER.
What is DIMINUENDO (dim.)?
It also means BECOMING SOFTER.
What does DOLCE mean?
It means SWEET, GENTLE.
What does ESPRESSIVO (espress.) mean?
It means EXPRESSIVE or WITH EXPRESSION.
What does FINE mean?
It means THE END.
What is FORTE (f)?
LOUD!
What is FORTISSIMO (ff)?
VERY LOUD!!
What does GRAZIOSO mean?
It means GRACEFUL.
What does LARGHETTO mean?
It means FAIRLY SLOW, BUT NOT AS SLOW AS LARGO.
What is LARGO?
VERY SLOW.
What is LEGATO?
SMOOTH.
What does LEGGIERO mean?
It means LIGHT, NIMBLE, QUICK.
What is LENTO?
SLOW.
What is MAESTOSO?
MAJESTIC.
What does MANO DESTRA (m.d.) mean?
It means RIGHT HAND.
What does MANO SINISTRA (m.s.) mean?
LEFT HAND.
What does MARCATO mean?
It means MARKED or STRESSED.
What is MEZZO FORTE (mf)?
MODERATELY LOUD.
What is MEZZO PIANO (mp)?
MODERATELY SOFT.
What does MODERATO mean?
It means AT A MODERATE TEMPO.
What is MOLTO?
MUCH, or VERY.
What does OTTAVA (8va) mean?
It means THE INTERVAL OF AN OCTAVE.
What does PEDALE (ped.) mean?
It means PEDAL.
What is PIANISSIMO (pp)?
VERY SOFT.
What is PIANO (p)?
SOFT.
What is POCO?
LITTLE.
What does PRESTISSIMO mean?
It means AS FAST AS POSSIBLE.
What is PRESTO?
VERY FAST.
What does RITARDANDO (rit.) mean?
It means SLOWING DOWN GRADUALLY.
What is RALLENTANDO (rall.)?
SLOWING DOWN.
What does RUBATO mean?
It means WITH SOME FREEDOM OF TEMPO TO ENHANCE MUSICAL EXPRESSION.
What is SPIRITOSO?
SPIRITED.
What is STACCATO?
DETACHED.
What is TEMPO?
It is the SPEED AT WHICH MUSIC IS PERFORMED.
What does TEMPO PRIMO (Tempo I) mean?
It means to RETURN TO THE ORIGINAL TEMPO.
What is TRANQUILLO?
QUIET, TRANQUIL.
What is VIVACE?
LIVELY, BRISK.
