Musical Terminology

Question 1

Largamente

Answer 1

Broadly

Question 2

Larghetto

Answer 2

Rather Broadly

Question 3

Prestissimo

Answer 3

Extremely fast (or as fast as possible)

Question 4

Con moto

Answer 4

With movement.

Question 5

Calando

Answer 5

Getting softer/slower.

Question 6

Morendo

Answer 6

Dying away.

Question 7

Forte-Piano

Answer 7

Loud then immediately soft.

Question 8

Sforzando

Answer 8

A strong accent

Question 9

Agitato

Answer 9

With agitation

Question 10

Attacca

Answer 10

Go on at once

Question 11

Animato

Answer 11

With animation

Question 12

Tranquillo

Answer 12

Calmly

Question 13

Con anima

Answer 13

With feeling

Question 14

Con brio

Answer 14

With spirit

Question 15

Con grazia

Answer 15

With grace

Question 16

Con Forza

Answer 16

With force

Question 17

Dolce

Answer 17

Soft and sweet

Question 18

Risoluto

Answer 18

With resolution

Question 19

Ben marcato

Answer 19

Well marked

Question 20

Main droite (M.D.)

Answer 20

Right hand

Question 21

Main gauche (M.G.)

Answer 21

Left hand

Question 22

Une corda

Answer 22

With the soft pedal

Question 23

Tre corde

Answer 23

Release the soft pedal

Question 24

Ad libitum

Answer 24

At pleasure, quite freely

Question 25

Loco

Answer 25

At the normal pitch

Question 26

Opus

Answer 26

A work or group of works

Question 27

M.M.

Answer 27

Maelzel’s Metronome

Question 28

Arco

Answer 28

Playing with the bow.

Question 29

Pizzicato

Answer 29

Plucked with the fingers.

Question 30

Tremelo.

Answer 30

Bowing back and forth very rapidly to produce a shimmery or wavering effect.

Question 31

Sul ponticello

Answer 31

Playing with the bow near the bridge.

Question 32

Sul tasto.

Answer 32

Playing with the bow on or near the finger board.

Question 33

Cantando

Answer 33

In a singing style.

Question 34

Tenuto.

Answer 34

Held.

Question 35

Piacevole.

Answer 35

Pleasant, agreeable.

Question 36

Portamento

Answer 36

A smooth gliding from one note to another.

Question 37

Dolente

Answer 37

Sadly, plaintive. Played with sorrow.

Question 38

Doloroso

Answer 38

Expressing sorrow.

Question 39

Sotto voce

Answer 39

Softly, in an undertone.

Question 40

Giocoso

Answer 40

Gay, merry.

Question 41

Grazioso

Answer 41

Gracefully.

Question 42

Assai

Answer 42

Very.

Question 43

Quasi

Answer 43

As if, as it were.

Question 44

Scherzando

Answer 44

Playfully.

Question 45

Subito

Answer 45

Suddenly.

Question 46

Non troppo

Answer 46

Not too much.

Question 47

Tempo commodo.

Answer 47

At a comfortable speed.

Question 48

Tempo giusto.

Answer 48

At a consistent speed.

Question 49

l’istesso tempo

Answer 49

At the same speed.

Question 50

Grave.

Answer 50

Slow with solemn.

Question 51

Rubato.

Answer 51

With some freedom in the time.

Question 52

Stringendo.

Answer 52

Pressing on faster.

Question 53

Perdendosi.

Answer 53

Fading away.

Question 54

Smorzando.

Answer 54

Dying away.

Question 55

Rinforzando.

Answer 55

Reinforcing the tone.

Question 56

Pesante.

Answer 56

Heavily.

Question 57

Uppermordent

Answer 57

Squiggle

Question 58

Lower mordent

Answer 58

Squiggle with line

Question 59

Turn

Answer 59

Necklace lock/clasp

Question 60

Inverted turn

Answer 60

With line through or vertical (instead of horizontal)

Question 61

Trill

Answer 61

tr. w squiggle

Question 62

Acciacatura

Answer 62

Crushed note w line

Question 63

Appogiatura

Answer 63

Leaning note (w/out line)