Music Terms for Orchestra

Grave

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.