Music Dynamics, Tempo, and Expression Terms

Vocabulary-style flashcards defining musical dynamic, tempo, expression, and notation terms in Italian, French, and German.

Forte (f)

loud

Mezzo forte (mf)

moderately loud

Fortissimo (ff)

very loud

Piano (p)

soft

Mezzo piano (mp)

moderately soft

Pianissimo (pp)

very soft

Fortepiano

loud then immediately soft

Morendo

dying away

Niente

nothing (=silence)

Perdendosi

dying away

Smorzando

dying away in tone and speed

Crescendo (cresc.)

gradually getting louder

Decrescendo (decresc.)

gradually getting softer

Diminuendo (dim.)

gradually getting softer

Lent

slow

Retenu

held back

Modéré

moderate speed

Vite

quick

Langsam

slow

Mässig

at a moderate speed

Lebhaft

lively

Schnell

fast

Alla breve

in $2/2$ time

Tempo

time

A tempo

in time

Rubato

with freedom of time

Metronome marking

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Adagio

slowly

Largo

slow and stately

Larghetto

rather slow

Lento

slow

Grave

very slow and solemn

Allargando

broadening

Rallentando (rall.)

gradually getting slower

Ritardando (rit.)

gradually getting slower

Ritenuto (rit.)

gradually getting slower

Andante

at a walking pace

Andantino

slightly faster than andante

Comodo

comfortably

Moderato

at a moderate speed

Allegro

fast

Allegro assai

very fast

Allegro moderato

moderately fast

Allegretto

fairly quick

Presto

very fast

Vivace

lively and quick

Vivo

lively and quick

Agitato

agitated

Stringendo

gradually getting faster

Accelerando

getting faster

Dolce

sweetly

Semplice

simply

Amabile

pleasant

Grazioso

graceful

Tranquillo

calm

Giocoso

playful

Scherzando

playfully, joking

Animato

animated, lively

Brio

vigour

Energico

energetically

Deciso

with determination

Maestoso

majestically

Risoluto

bold, strong

Affettuoso

tenderly, affectionately

Appassionato

passionately

Cantabile

in a singing style

Cantando

singing

Sonoro

resonant, with a rich tone

Dolore

grief

Doloroso

sorrowful

Mesto

sad

Tristamente

sadly

Triste

sad

Espressivo

expressive

Largamente

broadly

Sostenuto

sustained

Legato

slur/smoothly

Leggiero

lightly, nimbly

Pesante

heavy

Rinforzando

reinforcing

Ritmico

rhythmically

Animé

animated

Douce

sweetly

Ruhig

peaceful

Traurig

sad

Sforzando

forced, accented

Sforzato

forced, accented

Marcato

emphatic, accented

Tenuto

held for the full value

Staccato

short and detached

Staccatissimo

very short and detached

Semi-staccato

lightly detached

Sotto voce

in an undertone

Trill

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Upper mordent

A musical ornament indicated by a zigzag symbol

Lower mordent

A musical ornament indicated by a zigzag symbol with a vertical line

Turn

A musical ornament

Acciaccatura

A musical ornament

Appoggiatura

A musical ornament

Al, alla

in the style of