Performance Directions - Italian 1

Question 1

accelerando (or accel.)

Answer 1

gradually getting quicker

Question 2

adagio

Answer 2

slow

Question 3

allegretto

Answer 3

fairly quick (but not as quick as allegro)

Question 4

allegro

Answer 4

quick (literally ‘cheerful’)

Question 5

andante

Answer 5

at a medium (‘walking’) speed

Question 6

cantabile

Answer 6

in a singing style

Question 7

crescendo (or cresc.)

Answer 7

gradually getting louder

Question 8

da capo (or D.C.)

Answer 8

repeat from the beginning

Question 9

dal segno (or D.S.)

Answer 9

repeat from the sign S (enter symbol)

Question 10

decrescendo (or decresc.)

Answer 10

gradually getting quieter

Question 11

diminuendo (or dim.)

Answer 11

gradually getting quieter

Question 12

fine

Answer 12

the end

Question 13

(=forte)

Answer 13

loud

Question 14

(=fortissimo)

Answer 14

very loud

Question 15

legato

Answer 15

smoothly

Question 16

lento

Answer 16

slow

Question 17

mezzo

Answer 17

half

Question 18

(=mezzo forte)

Answer 18

moderately loud (literally ‘half’ loud)

Question 19

(=mezzo piano)

Answer 19

moderately quiet (literally ‘half’ quite)

Question 20

moderato

Answer 20

moderately (allegro moderato: moderately quick)

Question 21

(=piano)

Answer 21

quiet

Question 22

(=pianissimo)

Answer 22

very quiet

Question 23

poco

Answer 23

a little

Question 24

rallentando (or rall.)

Answer 24

gradually getting slower

Question 25

ritardando (or ritard. or rit.)

Answer 25

gradually getting slower

Question 26

ritenuto (or riten. or rit.)

Answer 26

held back

Question 27

staccato (or stacc.)

Answer 27

detached

Question 28

tempo

Answer 28

speed, time (a tempo: in time)