SCBDA Senior Terms

a poco

a little; gradually

a tempo

in time; generally implies a return to the original rate of speed

accelerando

gradually faster

adagietto

slow, but not as slow as adagio

adagio

very slow

agitato

agitated; rapid

al fine

to the finish

alla

in the style of

allargando

gradually slower and broader

allegretto

light and moderately quick, but not as fast as allegro

allegro

rapid; lively

andante

moderately slow, but moving

andantino

generally a little quicker than andante

animato

animated; spirited

appassionato

intensely; passionately; with deep feeling

arioso

in a vocal style

assai

very

ben

well

brilliante

brilliantly

calando

gradually slower and softer

Cantabile

in a singing style

chromatic

by semi-tones

coda

the final added measures of a musical composition

con

with

con amore

with tenderness

con anima

with animation; spirit

con brio

with spirit; brilliantly

con forza

with force

con fuoco

with fire, energy

con grazia

with grace

con spirito

with spirit; brilliance

crescendo

gradually louder

da capo

from the beginning

dal segno

from the sign

Decrescendo

gradually softer

Diminuendo

gradually softer

dolce

sweetly

energico

energetically

etude

a study

Fermata

a hold or pause

forte

loud

fortissimo

very loud

forzando

forcefully accented

furioso

furiously

giocoso

joyfully

grandioso

grand or noble style

grave

very slow or solemn

grazioso

gracefully

l'istesso

the same

larghetto

slow, but not as slow as largo

larghissimo

very slow, more so than largo

largo

very slow

legato

smooth and connected

leggiero

lightly

lento

very slow

Maestoso

majestically

marcato

marked; with emphasis

marcia

march style

marziale

martial

meno

less

mezzo

medium; half

moderato

moderately

molto

very

morendo

dying away

mosso

motion; movement

moto

motion, movement

non troppo

not too much

opus

a musical work or composition

ottava

an octave

pesante

heavily; with emphasis

Pianissimo

very softly

piano

softly

piu

more

poco

a little

poco a poco

little by little

prestissimo

very fast; more so than presto

presto

very fast

primo

first

Rallentando

gradually slower

religioso

in solemn style

Ritardando

gradually slower

ritenuto

a steady pace, but slower than the preceding tempo

rubato

temporary irregularity of time, lengthening some notes at the expense of others

scherzo

playfully, usually in rapid tempo with rhythmic and dynamic contrasts

Schezando

in light, playful style

segno

the sign

sempre

always; continually

senza

without

Sforzando

forced; with emphasis

simile

the same

smorzando

dying away

soli

more than one performer in unison

solo

a composition or passage for one performer

sordino

mute

sostenuto

sustained

staccato

separated, detached style

stringendo

gradually faster

subito

suddenly

tacet

silent

tempo

time; speed