Music Terms And Signs Flashcards
Accelerando, accel.
becoming quicker
Accent
A stressed note
ad libitum, ad lib.
at the liberty of the performer
adagio
slow
agitato
agitated
alla, all’
In the manner of
allegretto
fairly fast (a little slower than allegro)
allegro
Fast
andante
Moderately slow; at a walking pace
andantino
A little faster than andante
animato
Lively, animated
a tempo
Return to the original tempo
ben, bene
Well (for example, ben marcato: well marked)
cantabile
In a singing style
col, coll’, colla, colle
With (for example, coll’ottava: with an added octave)
con
With
con brio
With vigor, spirit
con espressione
With expression
con fuoco
With fire
con grazia
With grace
con moto
With motion
crescendo, cresc.
Becoming louder
da capo, D.C.
From the beginning
dal segno, D.S.
From the sign
D.C. al Fine
Repeat from the beginning and end at Fine
decrescendo, decresc.
Becoming softer
diminuendo, dim.
Becoming softer
dolce
Sweet, gentle
dolente
Sad
e, ed
And
espressivo, espress.
Expressive, with expression
fine
The end
forte (F)
Loud
fortepiano (FP)
Loud, then suddenly soft
fortissimo (FF)
Very loud
giocoso
Humorous, jocose
grandioso
Grand, grandiose
grave
Slow and solemn
grazioso
Graceful
larghetto
Fairly slow, but not as slow as largo
largo
Very slow
legato
Smooth
leggiero
Light, nimble, quick
lento
Slow
loco
Return to the normal register
ma
But (for example, ma non troppo: but not too much)
maestoso
Majestic
mano destra, m.d.
Right hand
mano sinistra, m.s.
Left hand
marcato
Marked or stressed
martellato
Strongly accented, hammered
meno
Less