Score Terminology

Question 1

A due (a 2)

Answer 1

To be played by both, as by first and second flute

Question 2

Avec

Answer 2

With

Question 3

Colla parte

Answer 3

With the other part; often refers to accommodating the soloist at that place in the score

Question 4

Come prima

Answer 4

As before

Question 5

Con

Answer 5

With; seen in other forms as a contraction with the article in Italian, thus: col, coi, colle,
cogli, colla (depending upon the gender and number).

Question 6

En dehors

Answer 6

Out in front of; means the part so marked should be projected through the
ensemble; it must be heard.

Question 7

Erstes Mal

Answer 7

The first time.

Question 8

Etwas

Answer 8

Somewhat.

Question 9

Forte possible

Answer 9

As loud as possible

Question 10

Frappe; frapper

Answer 10

The downbeat; to beat in time

Question 11

Gleich

Answer 11

Quickly

Question 12

Glissez; glisser

Answer 12

Slide; to slide

Question 13

Immer

Answer 13

Always

Question 14

L’istesso (lo stesso)

Answer 14

The same; used usually with the word tempo, meaning that the new part
should be in the same tempo as the preceding part

Question 15

Marcato

Answer 15

Marked, accented

Question 16

Meno

Answer 16

Less

Question 17

Mezzo

Answer 17

Half; usually mezza voce, softly.

Question 18

Modo

Answer 18

Style, manner

Question 19

Morendo

Answer 19

Dying away.

Question 20

Moto

Answer 20

Motion

Question 21

Murky bass

Answer 21

Broken octaves, lower note coming first.

Question 22

Muta

Answer 22

Change; usually reads muta in _____, meaning change the instrument to the pitch
designated. Most often seen in timpani and French horn parts.

Question 23

Ohne

Answer 23

Without; usually ohne Dämpfer, without mute

Question 24

Ossia

Answer 24

Otherwise; often refers to a simplified part – otherwise do it so.

Question 25

Partitur; Partitura –

Answer 25

Full score.

Question 26

Petit

Answer 26

Little

Question 27

Peu

Answer 27

A little

Question 28

Piacere, a piacere

Answer 28

At pleasure, denoting a passage executed at the discretion of the performer.

Question 29

Pieno

Answer 29

Full.

Question 30

Piu

Answer 30

More; most often seen with mosso, meaning more motion, slightly quicken the tempo. Also, plus

Question 31

Pult

Answer 31

Desk, a music stand. Usually refers to number of stands that are to play the part.

Question 32

Ripieno

Answer 32

Similar to tutti, it distinguishes the accompanying instruments from the soloist.

Question 33

Ruhig

Answer 33

Tranquil.

Question 34

Sans

Answer 34

Without

Question 35

Schnell

Answer 35

Quick, rapid, presto

Question 36

Sciolto

Answer 36

Fluently

Question 37

Scordatura

Answer 37

Tuning contrary to the normal, addressed to the strings.

Question 38

Sec, secco

Answer 38

Dry, very short, no after-ring

Question 39

Segue

Answer 39

Follow, continue in the same manner.

Question 40

Sehr

Answer 40

Very

Question 41

Senza

Answer 41

Without; usually senza sordini, without mutes

Question 42

Smorzando

Answer 42

Suddenly dying away.

Question 43

Sotto voce

Answer 43

In an undertone, soft voice.

Question 44

Spianar la voce

Answer 44

With smooth voice.

Question 45

Stentato

Answer 45

Labored

Question 46

Stimme

Answer 46

A single voice or part in the score.

Question 47

Strepitoso

Answer 47

Noisily

Question 48

Strisciando, strisciato

Answer 48

Legato motion, smooth.

Question 49

Subito

Answer 49

Suddenly, referring to a dynamic change

Question 50

Troppo

Answer 50

Too much.

Question 51

Tutti

Answer 51

The whole ensemble, everybody

Question 52

Unisoni

Answer 52

In unison; as violini unisoni, all violins in unison

Question 53

Vide

Answer 53

A cut; VI is printed where the cut starts and DE is shown at the end of the cut, thus: VI…DE.

Question 54

Virgula

Answer 54

The old terminology for the baton

Question 55

Voci pari

Answer 55

Equal voices.

Question 56

Accelerando

Answer 56

Gradually increasing the tempo

Question 57

Ad libitum

Answer 57

At liberty; take time, permit liberties here.

Question 58

Affrettando

Answer 58

Excitedly, increasing the tempo.

Question 59

A punto

Answer 59

Exactly in rhythm

Question 60

Con alcuna licenza

Answer 60

With some license; not perfectly rhythmic.

Question 61

Etwas langsamer

Answer 61

Somewhat slower.

Question 62

Im Takt

Answer 62

In tempo

Question 63

Langsam, Langsamer

Answer 63

Slow, slower

Question 64

Mässig

Answer 64

Moderato

Question 65

Pressando

Answer 65

Hurrying, pressing forward.

Question 66

Rythmé

Answer 66

Rhythmic feeling emphasized

Question 67

Rubato

Answer 67

Varying the note values within the rhythm, not strictly as written

Question 68

Stretto

Answer 68

Condensing, accelerating the tempo. (Do not confuse with the stretto of the fugue form, which is only a condensing of the distance between subject and answer.)

Question 69

Stringendo

Answer 69

Accelerating the tempo

Question 70

Suivez

Answer 70

Follow; usually refers to following the soloist who may take some liberties with the tempo for expression.

Question 71

Tacet

Answer 71

Silent; usually means the particular instrument does not play in that movement of the work.

Question 72

Taglio

Answer 72

A cut

Question 73

Takt

Answer 73

The time, the measure, rhythmically; sometimes, an accenting of the first beat in the measure.

Question 74

Tempo rubato

Answer 74

Not strictly in tempo

Question 75

Zurückhalten

Answer 75

Literally, holding back. Ritard.