Musical Terms Letters A-E

Question 0

Accent

Answer 0

A stress or emphasis on a note

Question 1

Accelerando

Answer 1

Growing faster-abbreviated-accel.

Question 2

Ad libitum

Answer 2

Allowing the musician to vary tempo or improvise-ad lib

Question 3

Adagio

Answer 3

Very slowly, slower than andante

Question 4

Agitato

Answer 4

Agitated, hurried, restless

Question 5

Alle breve

Answer 5

Means 2/2 time signature-same as cut time

Question 6

Allargando

Answer 6

Gradually slower and louder

Question 7

Allegretto

Answer 7

Not as quick as allegro

Question 8

Allegro

Answer 8

Brisk or lively

Question 9

Andante

Answer 9

Slow and flowing

Question 10

Andantino

Answer 10

Somewhat quicker than andante

Question 11

Animato

Answer 11

Animated, with life and spirit

Question 12

A tempo

Answer 12

Resume original speed

Question 13

Brio

Answer 13

Vigor, spirit, animation

Question 14

Cadenza

Answer 14

A brilliant, showy passage usually introduced near the close of a solo

Question 15

Cantabile

Answer 15

In a gracefully singing style

Question 16

Coda

Answer 16

An added section at the close of a piece

Question 17

Common time

Answer 17

Means 4/4 time signature

Question 18

Con

Answer 18

With

Question 19

Crescendo

Answer 19

Gradually growing louder

Question 20

Cut time

Answer 20

See alle breve 2/2 time

Question 21

Da capo (D.C.)

Answer 21

From the beginning

Question 22

D.C. al Fine

Answer 22

Go back to the beginning and play until Fine

Question 23

Dal segno

Answer 23

Go back to the sign

Question 24

D.S. al Fine

Answer 24

Go back to the sign and play until Fine

Question 25

Decrescendo

Answer 25

Gradually growing softer

Question 26

Diminuendo

Answer 26

Gradually growing softer

Question 27

Dolce

Answer 27

Sweetly, delicately

Question 28

Encore

Answer 28

A repeated or extra piece played at the end of a recital or concert by audience demand

Question 29

Espressivo

Answer 29

Full of expression

Question 30

Excerpt

Answer 30

A short section taken from a compleat musical piece