performance directions (Italian) grade 1-5 part 4

Question 1

ad libitum, ad lib.

Answer 1

at choice, meaning either that a passage may be performed freely or that an instrument in a score may be omitted

Question 2

col legno

Answer 2

with the wood, a direction to a string player to play with the wood of the bow rather than with the hair

Question 3

colla parte

Answer 3

keep with the soloist, a direction to an accompanist

Question 4

coll’ ottava

Answer 4

with the octave, a direction to a keyboard player to double notes an octive higher, or lower if bassa is added

Question 5

come prima

Answer 5

as before (not necessarily as at the beginning)

Question 6

come sopra

Answer 6

as above (= come prima)

Question 7

comodo

Answer 7

convenient (tempo comodo: at a comfortable speed)

Question 8

delicato

Answer 8

delicate

Question 9

divisi, div.

Answer 9

divided, a direction to orchestral players (usually strings) to divide into two or more groups

Question 10

duolo

Answer 10

= dolore

Question 11

fretta

Answer 11

haste

Question 12

lamentoso

Answer 12

lamenting

Question 13

largamente

Answer 13

broadly

Question 14

legerement (F) leggiero (I), leicht (G)

Answer 14

light, nimble

Question 15

mano

Answer 15

hand (mano sinistra, m.s.: left hand; mano destra, m.d.: right hand)

Question 16

mancando

Answer 16

fading away

Question 17

marcato, marc.

Answer 17

emphatic, accented

Question 18

marziale

Answer 18

in a military style

Question 19

mesto

Answer 19

sad

Question 20

mezza, mezzo

Answer 20

half (mezzo forte, mf: moderately loud; mezzo piano, mp: moderately soft; mezza voce; in an undertone)

Question 21

misterioso

Answer 21

mysterious

Question 22

morendo

Answer 22

dying away

Question 23

moto, movimento

Answer 23

movement, motion

Question 24

muta

Answer 24

change, e.g. as in changing the tuning of a kettle drum or in transferring from one instrument to another

Question 25

naturale, nat.

Answer 25

in the ordinary way, a direction to a singer or instrumentalist to resume the normal method of performance (eg. after a col legno passage in string music)

Question 26

vigoroso

Answer 26

vigorous, strong

Question 27

vivace (I), vivement (F), vivo (I)

Answer 27

lively, quick

Question 28

voce(I), voix (F)

Answer 28

voice (mezza voce: in an undertone, softly)

Question 29

volta

Answer 29

time (prima volta: first time)