music terms

ad libitum, ad lib

at the liberty of the performer

alla, all’

in the manner of

animato

lively, animated

ben, bene

well

con

with

con brio

with spirit, vigor

con espressione

with expression

con fuoco

with fire

con grazia

with grace

con moto

with motion

loco

return to the normal register

ma

but

meno

less

meno mosso

less movement, slower

non

not

più

more

più mosso

more movement, quicker

poco a poco

little by little

primo, prima

first; the upper part of a duet

quasi

almost, as if

secondo, seconda

second; lower part of a duet

sempre

always, continuously

senza

without

sforzando, sf, sfz

sudden strong accent of a single note or chord

simile

continue in the same manner as has been indicated

e, ed

and

forte, f

loud

fortepiano, fp

loud, then suddenly soft

fortissimo, ff

very loud

grave

slow and solemn

subito

suddenly

tre corde

three strings; release the left pedal (in piano)

troppo

too much

una corda

one string; depress the left pedal (on the piano)

andantino

a little faster than andante

andante

moderately slow, walking pace

espressivo, espress

expressive, with expression

larghetto

fairly slow, not as slow as largo

largo

very slow

leggiero

light, nimble, quick

pedale, ped

pedal

rubato

with some freedom of tempo to enhance musical expression

spiritoso

spirited

tranquillo

quiet, tranquil

accelerando, accel

becoming quicker

adagio

slow 1

mano destra, m.d

right hand

mano sinistra, m.s

left hand

prestissimo

as fast as possible

tempo primo (tempo I)

return to the original tempo

vivace

lively, brisk

allegretto

fairly fast

allegro

fast

cantabile

in singing style

dolce

sweetly, gently

legato

smoothly

lento

slow

maestoso

majestically

agitato

agitated

dolente

sad

giocoso

humourous

grandioso

grand

martellato

strongly accented, hammered

mesto

mournful

morendo

fading, dying away

pesante

weighty, with emphasis

quindicesima alta, 15 ma

two octaves higher

risoluto

resolute

scherzando

playful

semplice

simple

sonore

sonorous

sopra

above

sostenuto

sustained

sotto voce

soft, under the breath

tacet

be silent

tutti

the passage for the ensemble

vivo

lively

volta

time

volti subito, v.s

turn the page quickly