Musical Terms Flashcards
Very Slow - Largo
(Italian: broad, wide, large and consequently slow) is used as a frequent instruction to performers. 40-60 BPM
Very Slow - Larghetto
Slightly faster than Largo. 60-70 BPM
Rather Slow - Adagio
(Italian: slow) is an indication of tempo and is sometimes used to describe a slow movement. 70-80 BPM
Moderately Slow - Andante
At an easy walking pace. 80-104 BPM
Moderately - Moderato
At a moderate speed. 108-120 BPM
Fast - Allegro
Fast, to be played quickly. 120-168 BPM
Quite Fast - Presto
Faster then Allegro. 168-200 BPM
Very Fast - Prestissimo
As fast as possible. 200-208 BPM
Cantabile
(Italian: in singing style) walking speed and in a singing style.
Accelerando
(Italian: becoming faster) is a term in general use to show that the music should be played at an increasing speed.
Rallentando
(Italian: becoming slower) is a direction to a performer to play gradually slower.
Decrescendo
(Italian: growing less) is used as a direction to performers, meaning becoming softer.
Crescendo
(Italian: growing more) is used as a direction to performers, meaning becoming louder.
Interlude:
In the theatre an interlude performs the same function as an entr’acte, music between acts or scenes, designed to bridge a gap. It may also be used to indicate music played or sung between two other works or two sections of a work.
Legato
(Italian: smooth) is used as an instruction to performers. It is the opposite of staccato, which indicates a shortening and consequent detaching of notes.
Ostinato
(Italian: obstinate) indicates a part that repeats the same rhythm or melodic element.
Harmony
describes the simultaneous sounding of two or more notes and the technique governing the construction of such chords and their arrangement in a succession of chords.
Instrumentation
is generally used to mean orchestration, the art of writing music for instruments, or, alternatively, the actual scoring of a particular composition.
Interval:
In music an interval is the distance in pitch between two notes, counted from the lower note upwards, with the lower note as the first of the interval.
Intonation
is the exactness of pitch or lack of it in playing or singing.
The key signature
is the sharps or flats, or absence of either, at the beginning of a piece of music, indicating the sharps, flats and naturals belonging to the key of the music. Since a major or minor scale, the two now in common use, has a fixed order of tones and semitones
The orchestra
a large group of musicians generally consisting of Stringed instruments (violin, viola, cello and double bass) Woodwind instruments (clarinet, bass clarinet, flutes, oboes) Brass instruments (trumpet, trombone, euphonium, tuba) and Percussion instruments (timpani, chimes, drums, cymbals etc).
Rhythm
an essential element in music in one way or another, is the arrangement of notes according to their relative duration and relative accentuation.
Unison
is the simultaneous sounding of the same note by two or more singers or players. Unison songs are not in different parts, with all singers singing the tune together.
Pianissimo - pp
Very Soft - Like a whisper
Piano - p
Soft - A very gentle speaking tone
Mezzo Piano - mp
Moderately Soft - A lowered voice
Mezzo Forte - mf
Moderately Loud - Speaking voice
Forte - f
Loud - Raised voice, not quite a shout
Fortissimo - ff
Very loud - Like shouting at the top of your voice
