Musical Terms 2

Question 1

Ad libitum

Answer 1

free, tempo and phrasing at the discretion of the conductor

Question 2

agitado

Answer 2

agitated

Question 3

alberti bass

Answer 3

broken chord style

Question 4

alla breve

Answer 4

cut time with the half note receiving the beat.

Question 5

allargando

Answer 5

(allarg.) slowing down

Question 6

Anacrusis

Answer 6

upbeat or pickup

Question 7

animato

Answer 7

spirited, animated

Question 8

arco

Answer 8

using the bow of a string instrument as opposed to plucking or “pizzicato.”

Question 9

Boca chuisa

Answer 9

literally “closed mouth”, humming

Question 10

Caesura

Answer 10

the “train tracks,” all stop

Question 11

Calando

Answer 11

gradually diminishing

Question 12

Cantabile

Answer 12

in a singing style

Question 13

Col legno

Answer 13

using the wood of the bow on a string instrument.

Question 14

Colla parte

Answer 14

following the soloist’s part especially with regard to tempo

Question 15

Con brio

Answer 15

vigorously, “with fire”

Question 16

Con sordino

Answer 16

with a mute - often muted strings

Question 17

Con moto

Answer 17

with motion

Question 18

Continuo

Answer 18

Baroque accompaniment ensemble that typically includes a keyboard instrument such as harpsichord or organ, and a bass instrument such as bass viol, cello, or bassoon)

Question 19

Corno

Answer 19

horn (Italian)

Question 20

Cor anglaise

Answer 20

English horn (French)

Question 21

Da capo

Answer 21

literally “at the head” go back to the beginning abbr. “DC”.

Question 22

Dal segno

Answer 22

back to the sign. (“D.S.” )

Question 23

Détaché

Answer 23

detached style of bowing, changing direction on each note

Question 24

Down bow

Answer 24

pulling the bow of a string instrument, notated with the “table”

Question 25

Fermata

Answer 25

hold, at the director’s discretion

Question 26

Forzando, forzato, sforzando

Answer 26

sudden strong accent

Question 27

Frog

Answer 27

end of the bow in a string players hand