Conducting Vocab Block 3: Articulation, Timbre, and Performance Technique

a capella

unaccompanied vocal performance

acciaccatura

crushed grace note, usually very short

accompagnato

accompanied; with accompaniment

altissimo / in altissimo

extremely high; in the highest register

alto

high; also the alto voice/ register

am Steg

at the bridge

arco

with the bow

arpeggio

notes of a chord sounded successively

bocca chiusa

with closed mouth; humming

caesura / cesura

a break or complete interruption

chiuso

closed; stopped (especially horn)

col legno

with the wood of the bow

col pugno

with the fist

coloratura

ornamental, agile vocal passagework

colla parte

with the part

colla voce

with the voice

con sordino

with mute

coperto / coperti

covered, veiled tone

divisi (div.)

divide one section among two or more parts

eco

echo

glissando

continuous slide between pitches

Hauptstimme (H)

principal contrapuntal voice

improvisando

improvising; freely as improvised

legato

smooth and connected

loco

at the written pitch/place

main droite (m.d.)

right hand

main gauche (m.g.)

left hand

mano destra (m.d.)

right hand

mano sinistra (m.s.)

left hand

marcato

marked, emphasized

martellato

hammered, strongly accented

melisma

several notes sung on one syllable

mezza voce

half voice; with restrained tone

Nebenstimme (N)

secondary contrapuntal voice

notes inégales

unequal performance of written equal notes

ossia

or else; an alternative passage

pizzicato

pluck the string

portamento

expressive glide between pitches

portato

gently detached, carried; between legato and staccato

restez

remain/stay (on the same instrument, string, or position)

roulade

rapid ornamental run

saltando

bouncing bow stroke

scordatura

nonstandard tuning of strings

senza sordino

without mute

soli

an entire section or group featured

solo

one player or featured line

sotto voce

in an undertone; subdued

spiccato

light, bouncing bow stroke off the string

staccatissimo

very detached and short

staccato

detached, separated

sul ponticello

bow near/on the bridge

sul tasto

bow over the fingerboard

tenuto

held for full value; sustained or lightly stressed

tremolo

rapid repetition or rapid alternation

tutti

all performers together

unisono / unis.

in unison; end divisi