Band final 2024

accent

a stress (>)

accidental

any chromatic sign not found in the key signature

adagio

very slow tempo

alla breve

2/2 time, cut time, 2 beats per measure, with the half note carrying the beat

allegretto

moderately fast, slightly slower than allegro

allegro

fast, lively

andante

slow, walking tempo

cantabile

in a singing style

chromatic

half step motion

Circle of fifths

a useful chart showing keys and relationships between keys, in both major and minor

con

with

consonant

2 or more harmonious, pleasing tones

crescendo

grow louder

D.C. al fine

da capo al fine, repeat to the beginning and end at fine

D.S. al fine

dal segno al fine, return to the sign and stop at the fine (end)

diminuendo

diminish in loudness

dissonant

2 or more tones requiring resolution

dolce

sweetly

dominant

having to do with 'sol,' the 5th tone of a scale

duple

2 beats per measure, subdivision in 2

enharmonic

2 pitches that are spelled differently, yet sound the same (e.g. G# & Ab)

espressivo

with expression

fermata

symbol indicating to hold pitch longer than the normal time value

flat

a) below the correct pitch; b) a sign indicating to lower pitch a half step; c) something found in the key signature, used to establish the key (the last flat is the 4th degree of a scale and the 2nd to last flat indicates the first degree of a major scale)

forte piano

accent strongly, instantly diminishing to soft volume (2 words)

diphthong

2 vowel sounds combined together

forte

strong, loud

glissando

a smooth gliding from one tone to another, sounding the tones in between

harmony

simultaneous musical combination of tones to produce chords

hemiola

in 3/4, two groups of 3 notes divided into 3 groups of 2 notes

interval

the distance between 2 pitches, measured from lower pitch to higher pitch

key signature

the collection of sharps or flats in the upper left corner of a piece of music

legato

smooth & connected (--)

leggiero

lightly

lyrical

pertaining to the lyre, adapted for singing

maestoso

majestically

marcato

accented and detached (v or ^)

melodic

in the style of a melody, progressing by single tones

meno

less

meter

symmetrical groupings of musical rhythms

mezzo

medium

moderato

moderate tempo

molto

very, very much

mosso

motion

ostinato

repeated pattern, incessant repetition of a theme

pavane

stately dance of Italian or Spanish origin, in slow tempo and alla breve time

piano

soft

piu

more

poco

little

presto

faster than vivace

rallentando

growing slower and broadening

resolution

the progression of a dissonance to a consonance

rhythm

the measured movement of similar tone-groups

ritardando

growing slower

rubato

"robbed," dwell on and prolong prominent melody tones or chords (slow down), robbing less prominent tones of a portion of their time value, through the process of acceleration

Senza

without

sharp

a) above the correct pitch; b) a sign indicating to raise pitch a half step; c) something found in the key signature, used to establish the key (the last sharp is the 7th degree of a scale)

simile

similarly, continue most recent articulations

slur

connects 2 or more different pitches

staccato

detached, separated (.)

subito

suddenly, now

suspension

a dissonance caused by holding a tone of a chord while the other tones progress

syncopation

shifting of accents from strong to weak beats

tempo

a word or phrase indicating the speed at which a piece should be performed

tempo primo

at the original pace

tenuto

horizontal marking attached to a pitch to indicate holding it for its full value, used in legato performance

tie

connects 2 of the same pitch, lengthening a note

tonic

having to do with 'do,' the keynote of a scale

vibrato

wavering of pitch to create a warmer tone

vivace

faster than allegro