SD All-State Music Terminology Flashcards
accelerando
gradually growing faster
accidental
chromatic alteration of a note from the key signature until the next bar line (can be extended by a tie
ab libitum (ab lib) or a piacere
at pleasure, at will
affetuoso
tenderly, with feeling
a due ( a 2)
for two parts
alla breve
2/2 cut time
allargando
getting slower and louder
amoroso
with love, with warm feeling
animato or con anima
lively, animated, spirited
appassionato or passione
passionate, fervent
assai
much, very
a tempo
return to the original tempo
attacca
continue without a pause
bravura
great technical skill, virtuosity
brillante
sparkling, spirtited
cadenza
a brilliant solo, often found at the end of a movement or a piece
cadence
the close of a melodic or harmonic phrase
calmando or calmato
quieting down, subsiding
cantando or cantabile
in a singing style, lyrical
capriccioso
fanciful, freely
coda
a concluding passage added to the form proper
con
with
conbrio
with vigor, vigorously
con forza
with force, strength
con fuoco
with fire, passionately
con sordino
with mute
con spirito or spiritoso
with spirit
crescendo
becoming louder
da capo (D.C.)
form the beginning
dal segno (D.S.)
from the sign
decrescendo
becoming softer
diatonic
notes within a given scale or key
diminuendo (dim.)
becoming softer
divisi
divided parts where there is normally one
dolce
sweet, gentle
doppio movimento
twice as fast
double flat
lower by one full step
double sharp
raise by one full step
dynamics
the level of loudness
pianississimo (ppp)
very, very, soft
pianissimo
very soft
piano
soft
mezzo piano
medium soft
mezzo forte
medium loud
forte
loud
fortissimo
very loud
fortississimo
very very loud
e, ed or et
and
espressivo
with feeling, with expression
etude
a study or exercise focusing on a particular technical or musical problem