Signs and Terms

Question 1

sotto voce

Answer 1

in an undertone, subdued

Question 2

adagio

Answer 2

slow

Question 3

allegro

Answer 3

fast (also means cheerful, happy)

Question 4

allegretto

Answer 4

somewhat fast (slower than allegro)

Question 5

andante

Answer 5

walking tempo

Question 6

andantino

Answer 6

slightly faster than andante

Question 7

animato

Answer 7

animated, with spirit

Question 8

con moto

Answer 8

with motion

Question 9

largo

Answer 9

stately, broad, a very slow tempo

Question 10

lento

Answer 10

slow

Question 11

moderato

Answer 11

moderately

Question 12

presto

Answer 12

very fast

Question 13

vivace

Answer 13

lively, quick

Question 14

vivo

Answer 14

lively

Question 15

accelerando

Answer 15

gradually faster

Question 16

a tempo

Answer 16

return to the original tempo

Question 17

allargando

Answer 17

broadening, gradually slower

Question 18

meno mosso

Answer 18

less motion, slower

Question 19

piu mosso

Answer 19

more motion, faster

Question 20

rallentando

Answer 20

gradually slower

Question 21

ritardando

Answer 21

gradually slower

Question 22

ritenuto

Answer 22

held back, suddenly slower

Question 23

rubato

Answer 23

freely, flexible, slight accelerandos and ritardandos used for musical expression

Question 24

cantabile

Answer 24

in a singing manner

Question 25

con brio

Answer 25

with spirit, with brilliance

Question 26

con fuoco

Answer 26

with fire

Question 27

dolce

Answer 27

gently, sweetly

Question 28

doloroso

Answer 28

sadly, sorrowfully

Question 29

espressivo

Answer 29

expressively

Question 30

etto

Answer 30

little

Question 31

giocoso

Answer 31

humorous

Question 32

grazioso

Answer 32

gracefully

Question 33

ino

Answer 33

little

Question 34

leggiero

Answer 34

lightly

Question 35

meno

Answer 35

less

Question 36

molto

Answer 36

much, very

Question 37

pesante

Answer 37

heavily, ponderously

Question 38

piu

Answer 38

more

Question 39

poco

Answer 39

little

Question 40

robusto

Answer 40

boldly, robustly

Question 41

scherzando

Answer 41

playful

Question 42

sempre

Answer 42

always

Question 43

senza

Answer 43

without

Question 44

simile

Answer 44

in a similar manner, same

Question 45

smorzando

Answer 45

fading away

Question 46

spiritoso

Answer 46

spirited

Question 47

subito

Answer 47

suddenly

Question 48

tranquillo

Answer 48

peacefully, tranquil, calm

Question 49

accent

Answer 49

strong emphasis

Question 50

legato

Answer 50

smooth, connected

Question 51

sforzando

Answer 51

sudden strong accent

Question 52

sostenuto

Answer 52

sustained, legato

Question 53

staccato

Answer 53

short, detached

Question 54

tenuto

Answer 54

hold full value, slight emphasis

Question 55

chromatic half step

Answer 55

a half step with two notes of the same letter name (C to C#)

Question 56

diatonic half step

Answer 56

a half step with two notes of different letter names (C to Db)

Question 57

d. c. al fine

Answer 57

play from the beginning to the fine (end)

Question 58

fermata

Answer 58

hold a note longer than its time value

Question 59

m.d.

Answer 59

mano destra, right hand

Question 60

m.s.

Answer 60

mano sinistra, left hand

Question 61

tre corde

Answer 61

release the soft pedal

Question 62

una corda

Answer 62

press the soft pedal

Question 63

accent

Answer 63

strong emphasis

Question 64

legato

Answer 64

smooth, connected

Question 65

sforzando

Answer 65

sudden strong accent

Question 66

sostenuto

Answer 66

sustained, legato

Question 67

staccato

Answer 67

short, detached

Question 68

tenuto

Answer 68

hold full value, slight emphasis

Question 69

chromatic half step

Answer 69

a half step with two notes of the same letter name (C to C#)

Question 70

diatonic half step

Answer 70

a half step with two notes of different letter names (C to Db)

Question 71

d. c. al fine

Answer 71

play from the beginning to the fine (end)

Question 72

fermata

Answer 72

hold a note longer than its time value

Question 73

m.d.

Answer 73

mano destra, right hand

Question 74

m.s.

Answer 74

mano sinistra, left hand

Question 75

tre corde

Answer 75

release the soft pedal

Question 76

una corda

Answer 76

press the soft pedal

Question 77

articulation

Answer 77

the manner in which notes are executed, including staccato and legato

Question 78

enharmonic

Answer 78

two different names for the same pitch, like C# and Db

Question 79

hemiola

Answer 79

a shift of the rhythmic pulse from a division of 2 to a division of 3

Question 80

marcato

Answer 80

stressed, marked

Question 81

senza

Answer 81

without

Question 82

syncopation

Answer 82

a momentary contradiction of the meter

Question 83

name the scale degree names

Answer 83

tonic
supertonic
mediant
subdominant
dominant
submediant
leading tone
tonic