Piano Theory General Vocab

Question 1

Pianississimo

Answer 1

Very very soft

Question 2

Pianissimo

Answer 2

Very soft

Question 3

Piano

Answer 3

Soft

Question 4

Mezzo forte

Answer 4

Medium loud

Question 5

Mezzo piano

Answer 5

Medium soft

Question 6

Forte

Answer 6

Loud

Question 7

Fortissimo

Answer 7

Very loud

Question 8

Fortississimo

Answer 8

Very very loud

Question 9

Fortepiano

Answer 9

Loud then soft

Question 10

Crescendo (cresc.)

Answer 10

Gradually louder

Question 11

Diminuendo (dim.)

Answer 11

Gradually softer

Question 12

Sotto voce

Answer 12

In an undertone, subdued

Question 13

Adagio

Answer 13

Slow

Question 14

Allegro

Answer 14

Fast

Question 15

Allegretto

Answer 15

Somewhat fast (slower than allegro)

Question 16

Andante

Answer 16

Walking tempo

Question 17

Andantino

Answer 17

Slightly faster than andante

Question 18

Animato

Answer 18

Animated, with spirit

Question 19

Con moto

Answer 19

With motion

Question 20

Largo

Answer 20

Stately, broad, a very slow tempo

Question 21

Lento

Answer 21

Slow

Question 22

Moderato

Answer 22

Moderately

Question 23

Presto

Answer 23

Very fast

Question 24

Vivace

Answer 24

Lively, quick

Question 25

Vivo

Answer 25

Lively

Question 26

Accelerando

Answer 26

Gradually faster

Question 27

A tempo

Answer 27

Return to the original tempo

Question 28

Allargando

Answer 28

Broadening, gradually slower

Question 29

Meno mosso

Answer 29

Less motion

Question 30

Piu mosso

Answer 30

More motion, faster

Question 31

Rallentando (rall., rallent.)

Answer 31

Gradually slower

Question 32

Ritenuto

Answer 32

Held back, suddenly slower

Question 33

Ritardando (rit.)

Answer 33

Gradually slower

Question 34

Rubato

Answer 34

Freely, flexible; slight accelerandos and ritardandos used for musical expression

Question 35

Cantible

Answer 35

In a singing manner

Question 36

Con brio

Answer 36

With spirit

Question 37

Con fuoco

Answer 37

With fire

Question 38

Dolce

Answer 38

Gently, sweetly

Question 39

Doloroso

Answer 39

Sadly, sorrowfully

Question 40

Espressivo

Answer 40

Expressively

Question 41

—etto

Answer 41

Little

Question 42

Giocoso

Answer 42

Humorous

Question 43

Grazioso

Answer 43

Gracefully

Question 44

–ino

Answer 44

Little

Question 45

Leggiero

Answer 45

Lightly

Question 46

Meno

Answer 46

less

Question 47

Molto

Answer 47

Much, very

Question 48

Pesante

Answer 48

Heavily, ponderously

Question 49

Piu

Answer 49

More

Question 50

Poco

Answer 50

Little

Question 51

Robusto

Answer 51

Boldly, robustly

Question 52

Scherzando

Answer 52

Playful

Question 53

Sempre

Answer 53

Always

Question 54

Senza

Answer 54

Without

Question 55

Simile

Answer 55

In a similar manner, same

Question 56

Smorzando

Answer 56

Fading away

Question 57

Spiritoso

Answer 57

Spirited

Question 58

Subito

Answer 58

Suddenly

Question 59

Tranquillo

Answer 59

Peaceful, tranquil, calm

Question 60

Accent

Answer 60

Strong emphasis

Question 61

Legato

Answer 61

Smooth, attached

Question 62

Sforzando

Answer 62

Sudden strong accent

Question 63

Sostenuto

Answer 63

Sustained, legato

Question 64

Staccato

Answer 64

Short, detach

Question 65

Tenuto

Answer 65

Hold full value; slight emphasis

Question 66

Alberti bass

Answer 66

An accompaniment pattern using a three note chord. The notes of the chord are played bottom-top-middle-top.

Question 67

Arpeggio

Answer 67

The notes of a chord played one after another instead of together. The notes of an arpeggio may be written out, or indicated by a wavy line to the left of the chord

Question 68

Chromatic half step

Answer 68

A half step with two notes of the same letter name

Question 69

Diatonic half step

Answer 69

A half step with notes of different letter names

Question 70

D.C. al Fine

Answer 70

Play from the beginning to the fine

Question 71

Fermata

Answer 71

Hold a note longer than its time value

Question 72

Grace note

Answer 72

A note printed in small type. It is not counted in the rhythm; it is played quickly, almost together with the next note

Question 73

Mano destra (m.d.)

Answer 73

Right hand

Question 74

Mano sinistra (m.s.)

Answer 74

Left hand

Question 75

Opus

Answer 75

Work the term is usually used with a number to indicate the chronological order of the music written by a composer

Question 76

Pedal point

Answer 76

A consistent note that is held, repeated, or returned to regularly as harmonies change

Question 77

Pedal sign

Answer 77

A sign that shows when to press and lift the damper as harmonies change

Question 78

Tre corde

Answer 78

Release the soft pedat

Question 79

Una corda

Answer 79

Depress the soft pedal

Question 80

Polyphonic texture

Answer 80

Music with 2 independent parts or voices

Question 81

Homophonic texture

Answer 81

Music with melody and accompaniment

Question 82

Coda

Answer 82

Ending

Question 83

Toccata

Answer 83

Style of composition free in form. Rapid scales, arpeggios, chords, octaves, etc.

Question 84

Retrograde

Answer 84

backwards motion (subject in reverse order)

Question 85

Ostinato

Answer 85

a phrase persistently repeated in one voice

Question 86

Serialism

Answer 86

A Contemporary form of a chromatic scale that doesn’t emphasize any note or tone.

(forms include Prime, Retrograde, Inverse, and Retrograde Inverse)