Orchestra Midterm Review

Accelerando

Increasing gradually in tempo

Al fine

To the end

Allargando

Gradually slower and broader

Arrangement

An adaptation of a given composition into a form other than what it was originally written for, usually indicated as: Mozart/Wykosi or arr. Wykosi

Arco

With the bow

A tempo

Back to original tempo

Basso Continuo

A characteristic of Baroque music consisting of a bass part that runs continuously throughout a work, also called throughbass

Cantabile

Singingly

Coda

The closing few measures of a composition, added to give the composition closure

Col legno

Strike the strings with the wood of the bow

Con gusto

With energy

Cue notes

Very small notes written in a part to indicate what other players are playing, the purpose is to aid the player in keeping their place in the music

Da capo

Back to the beginning of the piece; indicated by D.C. Literally, “The Head.”

Dal segno

Go back to the sign. Usually followed by an indication to stop at the fine or jump to a coda

Diminuendo

Gradually softer (opposite of crescendo)

Divisi

Divide the parts or notes; in a two note chord the outside player plays the top note and the inside player plays the bottom note

Dolce

Sweetly

Ensemble

Group of musicians that preform as a unit

Grace note

A quick, ornamental note placed before the main note. Usually appears on the page smaller than normal notes

Harmonic

Notes that are achieved when the performer lightly places his finger on nodes along the string. The resulting sound is very clear and pristine

Legato

Smooth and connected. No separation at all

L’istesso Tempo

The same tempo, an indication in a composition that indicates the beat remains constant when the meter changes. Ex: 2/4 to 6/8, it still has 2 beats in the measure but the counting is different.

Marcato

Marked, accented, and usually a bit shorter

Meno

Less

Meter

Measure of time (4/4, 2/4, 3/4)

Molto

Very much, a great deal

Morendo

Dying, fading away

Mosso

Motion

Niente

Nothing

Overture

Introduction to an opera or other large musical work

Pesante

Heavy

Piu

More

Pizzicato

Plucking the string

Poco a poco

Little by little

Quartet

4 players

Quintet

5 players

Ritardando (rit.)

Slowing in tempo

Scordatura

Tuning contrary to the normal, addressed to the strings

Sempre

Always

Senza

Without

Septet

7 players

Sextet

6 players

Simile

In a similar manner

Soli

Entire section plays an important “solo” part

Solo

A single performer

Sordino

Mute

Subito

Suddenly or instantly

Staccato

Separated

Stringendo

Accelerating the tempo

Sul ponticello

Play near the bridge

Sul tasto

Play over the fingerboard

Suite

A set of songs or dances

Tempo

Speed of the beat

Tenuto

Very soft accent, often played with quite a bit of length

Tremolo

Rapid (“trembling”) repetition of a tone or chord, without apparent breaks, to express emotion

Trio

3 players

Tutti

All instruments together

Una corda

One string (shift instead of string crossing)

Name all tempo names from slowest to fastest

Largo, Adagio, andante, moderato, allegretto, vivace, presto

Detache

A primarily connected bow stroke with distinct, separate bows

Hooked bow

Two or more notes played in the same bow direction with a stop between each note

Louree

A hooked bowing where the bow does not stop, but each note is caused to sound by adding weight with the index finger. Also called portato

Martele

A strong, accented bowing. This is the term used to describe the bow stroke that plays accents

Spicatto

Stroke with the bow bouncing off the string

Slur

Curved line that indicates to sing or play in a legato manner; without separation

Order of the sharp keys

F C G D A E B

How to name a key in sharps

Look at the last sharp, the go a half step higher. The only exceptions are E and B, which require you to count a whole step up.

What key has no sharps or flats

C major, A minor

Order of the flat keys

B E A D G C F

How to name a key in flats

Look at the 2nd to last flat. The only exception to this is the key of F, which has only one flat