performance directions (Italian grade 1-5 part 1) Flashcards
a cappella
Unaccompanied (referring to church music - lit. min church style’
Accelerando, accel.
Gradually getting faster
Adagietto
Rather slow, but faster than adagio
Adagio
Slow (lit. ‘At ease), generally held to indicate a tempo between andante and largo
a deux, a 2 (F), a due, a 2
Two performers or instruments (in orchestral or band music, it means that a part is to be played in unison by two instruments)
Affettuoso
Tenderly
Affrettando, affret.
Hurrying
Agitato
Agitated
Al, alla
To the, in the manner of
Alla breve
With a minim beat, equivalent to 2/2 ¢; ie implying a faster tempo than the notes might otherwise suggest (see 1/2)
A (I), `a (F)
At, to,by, for, in, in the style of
Alla marcia
In the style of a march
Allargando
Broadening, ie. Getting a little slower and probably also a little louder
Allegretto
Fairly quick, but not as quick as allegro
Allegro
Quick (lit. Cheerful)
Alt
High (in alt is used in vocal music to refer to notes in the octave above the treble stave, starting with the G; in altissimo, in the octave above that
Al tallone
See au talon (use the bow of a string instrument at the heal, ie the end held by the player
Amabile
Amiable, pleasant
Amore (I), amour (F)
Love
Amoroso
Loving
Andante
At walking pace (lit. ‘Going’), indicating a medium speed (piu andante and molto andante are somewhat slowe
Andantino
Slightly faster than andante (but it can also mean slightly slower: the term is ambiguous
Anima
Soul, spirit (con animal is ambiguous, meaning either with feelinf’ or ‘spirited’
Animando
Becoming more lively
Animato (I) anime (F)
Animated, lively
