Musical Vocabulary (Combined)

accelerando (accel.)

increased tempo

adagio

slowly

allargando (allarg.)

becoming broader slowly

allegretto

moderately fast

allegro

quick rapid tempo

andante

moderately slow

a tempo

resume original tempo

giusto

moderately

grave

slowly and solemn

langsam

slowly

largamente

broadly

largo

very slowly

lebhaft

lively

modere

moderate tempo

poco a poco

little by little

presto

very quick tempo

rallentando (rall.)

growing slower

ritardando (rit.)

gradually slower

ritenuto

more immediate slowing of tempo

rubato

expressive flexibility of tempo

schnell

quickly and fast

stringendo (string.)

quickening of tempo

tempo primo

at original tempo

tenuto (ten.)

sustained and held back

vivace

quickly and lively

Zeitmass

tempo

zuruckhaltend

ritard

a due (a²)

Both performers. Follows a section with only one performer on the part.

allein

Solo, alone.

al niente

Diminish the sound to nothing.

ancora

Again.

attacca

Begin the next section without pausing.

Blech

Brass instruments

colla parte

In unison with another part.

con

With.

da capo (DC)

Return to the beginning.

fiero

Fiercely.

Holz

Woodwinds.

laissez vibrer (LV)

Let vibrate, do not dampen.

LH

Left hand.

l’istesso tempo

The same tempo.

MM

Maelzel metronome.

morendo

Dying away.

moto

Motion.

nach

After, behind.

niente

Nothing.

otez

Remove

peu

A little.

piu

More.

portando la voce

Vocal glissando, sliding smoothly from one note to the next.

rentenu

Held back.

RH

Right hand.

secco, sec

Dry, simple.

sempre

Always.

subito (sub.)

Immediate, suddenly.

tacet, tacit

Silent.

tutti

All, the entire ensemble

bouché

Muted French horn, using hand. Indicated by +

dämpfer

Mute (German)

flatterzunge

Flutter tongue. Make a rapid articulation, similar in sound to a rolled r

sordino

Mute (Italian)

tremolo

Quick repetition of the same note; or quick repetition between different pitches (such as E and G)

piccolo (Italian)

flauto piccolo ottavino

piccolo (German)

kleine Flöte

piccolo (French)

petite flûte

flute (Italian)

flauto

flute (German)

Flöte, grosse Flöte

flute (French)

flûte

oboe (Italian)

oboe

oboe (German)

Hoboe

oboe (French)

hautbois

English horn (Italian)

Corno Inglese

English horn (German)

Englisch Horn

English horn (French)

cor anglais

clarinet (Italian)

clarinetto

clarinet (German)

Klarinette

clarinet (French)

clarinette

bass clarinet (Italian)

clarinetto basso

bass clarinet (German)

Bassklarinette

bass clarinet (French)

clarinette basse

bassoon (Italian)

fagotto

bassoon (German)

Fagott

bassoon (French)

basson

contrabassoon (Italian)

contrafagotto

contrabassoon (German)

Kontrafagott

contrabassoon (French)

contre-bassoon

saxophone (Italian)

sassofone

saxophone (German)

Saxophon

saxophone (French)

saxophone

horn (Italian)

corno

horn (German)

Horn

horn (French)

cor

trumpet (Italian)

tromba

trumpet (German)

Trompete

trumpet (French)

trompette

cornet (Italian)

cornetto

cornet (German)

Kornett

cornet (French)

cornet à piston

Fluegelhorn (Italian)

flicorno

Fluegelhorn (German)

Bugle