Music Terminology (Dynamics, Tempo, Articulation, and Repeats)

piano

-Meaning: Soft

*dynamics

forte

-Meaning: loud

*dynamics

mezzo piano

-Meaning: moderately soft

*dynamics

mezzo forte

-Meaning: moderately loud

*dynamics

pianissimo

-Meaning: very soft

*dynamics

fortissimo

-Meaning: very loud

*dynamics

crescendo (cresc)

-Meaning: gradually louder

*dynamics

decrescendo (decres) or diminuendo (dim)

-Meaning: gradually softer

*dynamics

largo

-Meaning: very slow

*tempo

adagio

-Meaning: slow

*tempo

andante

-Meaning: moving along (walking speed)

*tempo

moderato

-Meaning: moderately

*tempo

allegro

-Meaning: quickly, cheerfully

*tempo

vivace

-Meaning: lively and fast

*tempo

allegro moderato

-Meaning: slightly slower than allegro but quicker than moderato

*tempo

ritardando (ritard or rit.)

-Meaning: gradually slower

*tempo

accelerando (accel.)

-Meaning: gradually faster

*tempo

staccato

-Meaning: play the note short and detached

*articulation

accent

-Meaning: play the note louder, with special emphasis

*articulation

Sforzando

-Meaning: a sudden, strong accent

*articulation

tenuto

-Meaning: hold the note for its full value

*articulation

fermata

-Meaning: hold the note longer than its normal value

*articulation

Da Capo

-Meaning: repeat from the beginning

-Sign: D.C.

Dal Segno

-Meaning: Repeat from the sign

-Sign: D.S.

Fine

-Meaning: the end

-Sign: Fine

Coda

-Meaning: an added ending