Music Terms for Orchestra

*Grave*

very slow

*Lento*

slowly

*Largo*

broadly

*Adagio*

slow and stately (literally, "at ease")

*Adagietto*

 slower than andante

*Andantino*

slightly slower than andante (although in some cases it can be taken to mean slightly faster than andante)

*Andante*

at a walking pace

*Andante moderato*

between andante and moderato (thus the name andante moderato)

*Marcia moderato*

moderately, in the manner of a march

*Moderato*

 moderately

*Allegro Moderato*

moderately fast

*Allegretto*

close to but not quite allegro

*Allegro*

fast, quickly, and bright

*Vivace*

lively and fast

*Presto*

extremely fast

*Prestissimo*

even faster than presto

*Accelerando*

 speeding up

*Allargando*

growing broader; decreasing tempo, usually near the end of a piece

*Calando*

 going slower (and usually also softer)

*Meno mosso*

less movement or slower

*Mosso*

movement, more lively, or quicker, much like *più mosso*, but not as extreme

*Più mosso*

more movement or faster

*Precipitando*

 hurrying, going faster/forward

*Rallentando*

gradual slowing down

*Ritardando*

slowing down gradually; also see rallentando and ritenuto

*Ritenuto*

 slightly slower; temporarily holding back.

__*Rubato*__

 free adjustment of tempo for expressive purposes

*Stringendo*

pressing on faster

*A tempo*

at the same speed as the beginning

*L’istesso tempo*

at the same tempo as before

*Tempo primo*

same tempo as original tempo

*alla*

in the manner or style of

*assai*

very much, as in *allegro assai*, quite fast

con

with

*con brio*

with vigor and spirit

*con dolcezza*

with softness; delicately

*con fuoco*

with fire

*con moto*

with motion

*meno*

less

*misterioso*

mysterious

*molto*

much, very, example

*non troppo*

not too much

*più*

more, as in *più allegro* (more quickly); used as a relative indication when the tempo changes

*poco*

slightly, little, as in *Poco adagio*

*poco a poco*

little by little

*senza*

without

*sostenuto*

sustained, prolonged

*subito*

suddenly

*tutta forza*

full power and force

*vivo*

with life and vigor

__*agitato*__

agitated, with implied quickness

appassionato

to play passionately

*Animato*

animatedly, lively

*Brillante*

sparkling, glittering

__*Cantabile*__

in singing style (lyrical and flowing)

*Calando*

dying away, slowing, diminishing

*Dolce*

sweetly

*Energico*

energetic, strong, forceful

__*Espressivo*__

expressively

*Furioso*

to play in an angry or furious manner

__*Giocoso*__

merrily, funny

*Grazioso*

gracefully

__*Lacrimoso*__

tearfully, sadly

*Lamentoso*

lamenting, mournfully

__*Leggiero*__

 to play lightly, or with light touch

__*Maestoso*__

 majestic or stately (which generally indicates a solemn, slow march-like movement)

*Marcato*

 marching tempo, marked with emphasis

*Misterioso*

mystical, in a shady manner

__*Morendo*__

 dying

__*Pesante*__

heavily

__*Saltando*__

jumpy, fast, and short

*Scherzando*

playfully

*Tranquillo*

peacefully

pianississimo

extremely soft

pianissimo

very soft

piano

soft

mezzo-piano

medium soft

mezzo-forte

medium loud

forte

loud

fortissimo

very loud

fortississimo

extremely loud

crescendo

gradual increase in volume

decrescendo

gradual decrease in volume

sforzando

literally “forced”, denotes an abrupt fierce accent on a single sound or chord.