Conducting 1 terms (dynamics)

basic musical definitions (dynamics)

pianissimo

abbr. pp. very soft

piano

abbr. p. soft

mezzo

medium or moderately

mezzo piano

abbr. mp. medium soft

mezzo forte

abbr. mf. moderately loud

forte

abbr. f. loud

fortissimo

abbr. ff. very loud

diminuendo

abbr. dim. means gradually getting softer (sign: >)

crescendo

abbr. cresc. means gradually getting louder (sign: <)

poco a poco

“little by little” indicates a gradual increase or decrease in volume of sound

accent

a stress on notes so marked

sforzando

abbr. sfz. strongly accented or note or chord

sforzato

abbr. sfp. strongly accented by then immediately piano

subito

suddenly. usually to indicate a dramatically sudden change in dynamic level of sound