Musical Terms (Italian) Flashcards
a tempo
return to the previous (or original) tempo after another marking such as ritardano or accelerando etc
accelerando, accel.
gradually quicker
adagio
slow (faster than largo, but slower than andante) “at ease”
ad libitum, ad lib.
“at liberty” “at one’s pleasure” - the performer has freedom to choose how to perform the marked section
agitato
agitated
alla, all’
in the manner of
allargando, allarg.
broadening, becoming slower little by little
allegretto
moderately fast, a little lively
allegro
cheerful, lively, fast
andante
at a walking pace, moderately
andantino
either a little faster or a little slower than andante
animato
lively, animated
arco
for stringed instruments: play with the bow (e.g. after a pizzicato passage)
assai
much, very (e.g. largo assai)
attacca
go straight on (e.g. at the end of a movement)
ben, bene
well (e.g. ben marcato: well marked)
brillante
brilliantly
calando
“decreasing” - gradually slower and softer
cantabile
in a singing style
col, coll’, colla, colle
with
comodo, commodo
comfortable, at a moderate speed
con
with
con brio
with vigour, with spirit
con espressione
expressively, with expression
con fuoco
fiery, with fire
con grazia
with grace, gracefully (grazioso)
con moto
with motion, with movement
con pedale, con ped.
with pedal
con sordino
with mute (e.g. string instruments, brass instruments)
crescendo, cresc.
becoming gradually louder
da capo, D.C.
from the beginning (of the movement)
da capo al Fine, D.C. al Fine
from the beginning (of the movement) until the Fine marking
dal segno, D.S.
from the sign
decrescendo, decresc.
becoming gradually softer
diminuendo, dim.
becoming gradually softer
dolce
sweet, sweetly
dolente
sorrowful, sad
e, ed
and
espressivo
expressively
fermata
another name for a pause: hold the marked note or rest longer than rhythmic value
fine
the end
forte, f
strong, loud
fortepiano, fp
strong-soft: ie loud, then suddenly soft
fortissimo, ff
very loud
giocoso
playful, jocular (jokingly), merry
grandioso
grandly, grandiose
grave
slow, serious, solemn
grazioso
gracefully
largamente
broadly, slowly
larghetto
somewhat slowly (but faster than largo)
largo
broadly, slowly
legato
joined, smoothly, connected
leggiero
lightly, delicately, nimble
lento
slowly
l’istesso tempo
at the same tempo
loco
at the written pitch (usually seen after an 8va higher, or 8va lower marking)
ma
but
maestoso
majestically
mano destra, M.D.
(play with the) right hand
mano sinistra, M.S.
(play with the) left hand
marcato, marc.
marked, stressed (accented)
martellato
hammered, strongly accented
meno
less
meno mosso
less mouvement, slower
mesto
mournful (sad)
mezzo forte, mf
moderately loud
mezzo piano, mp
moderately soft
moderato
at a moderate speed
molto
very, much
morendo
dying away, fading away in volume (and speed)
non
not
non troppo
not too much
ottava, 8va
octave
(when shown with a bracket above: play one octave above the written pitch; when shown with a bracket below: play one octave below the written pitch)
pedale, ped.
pedal
pesante
heavy
pianissimo, pp
very soft
piano, p
soft
più
more
più mosso
faster (more movement)
pizzicato
for stringed instruments: pluck the strings
poco
little
poco a poco
little by little
prestissimo
extremely fast - as fast as possible
presto
very quickly
prima, primo
first; the upper part of a duet
prima volta
first time
quindicesima alta (15ma)
play the marked passage two octaves higher
quasi
as if, almost
rallentando, rall.
becoming gradually slower, broadening
resoluto
resolutely (sometimes spelled “risoluto”)
ritardano, rit.
slowing down gradually
ritenuto, riten.
suddenly slower, held back
rubato
“robbed” - flexible tempo within a phrase for musical effect
scherzando
playfully
seconda, secondo
second; the lower part of a duet
seconda volta
second time (second playthrough)
semplice
simply
sempre
always
senza
without
sforzando, sf, sfz
a sudden strong accent
simile
continue in the same way
usually seen after a marking such as staccato or tenuto etc. - ie to continue playing in the directed way
sonore
sonorous
sopra
above
sostenuto
sustained
sotto voce
softly, subdued, under the breath
spiritoso
spirited
staccato
short and detached
stringendo
gradually becoming faster, pressing onwards
subito
suddenly
tacet
silent, do not play the section (or movement)
tempo
time, the speed of the music
Tempo primo, Tempo I
resume the original speed of the music (after a section in a different tempo, or after an accelerando etc.)
tenuto
held, sustained
tranquillo
tranquil, peacefully
tre corde
three strings: usually seen at the end of a section marked “una corda” in piano music, as an indication to release the “soft pedal”
troppo
too much
tutti
all, everyone should play, all together
una corda
“one string”: in piano music, use the “soft pedal” This marking is often followed by “tre corde” at the end of the section.
vivace
very lively, a quick tempo
vivo
lively
volta
time (prima volta: first time etc)
volti subito, v.s.
turn suddenly: ie turn the page quickly
