ABRSM Music theory 1-5 terms and signs

attacca

go straight to the next section of music (italian)

dolente

sad, mournful (italian)

dolore

grief (italian)

doppio movimento

twice as fast (italian)

estinto

as soft as possible, lifeless (italian)

incalzando

getting quicker (italian)

lacrimoso

sad (italian)

loco

at the normal pitch, used to cancel 8va (italian)

lunga

long (italian)

doloroso

sorrowful (italian)

lusingando

coaxing; in a sweet and persuasive style (italian)

misura

measure (italian)

alla misura

in strict time (italian)

senza misura

in free time (italian)

ossia

or, alternatively (italian)

piacevole

pleasant (italian)

piangvole

plaintive, in the style of a lament (italian)

pochettino, poch.

rather little (italian)

rinforzando, rf, rfz

reinforcing (italian)

segue

go straight on (italian)

smorzando, smorz.

dying away in tone and speed (italian)

teneramente, tenerezza

tenderly, tenderness (italian)

tosto

swift, rapid, used in the same sense as troppo (italian)

volante

flying, fast (italian)

aber

but (german)

Ausdruck

expression (german)

bewegt

with movement, agitated (german)

breit

broad, expansive (german)

ein

a, one (german)

einfach

simple (german)

etwas

somewhat, rather (german)

fröhlich

cheerful, joyful (german)

immer

always (german)

langsam

slow (german)

lebhaft

lively (german)

mässig

at a moderate speed (german)

mit

with (german)

nicht

not (german)

ohne

without (german)

ruhig

peaceful (german)

schnell

fast (german)

sehr

very (german)

süss

sweet (german)

traurig

sad (german)

und

and (german)

voll

full (german)

wenig

little (german)

wieder

again (german)

zart

tender, delicate (german)

zu

to, too (german)

accelerando (or accel.)

gradually getting quicker

adagio

slow

allegretto

fairly quick (but not allegro)

allegro

quick, cheerful

andante

a medium, walking speed

cantabile

in a singing style

crescendo

gradually getting louder

de capo (or D.C)

repeat from the beginning

dal segno (or D.S)

repeat from the dal segno symbol

diminuendo (or dim.)

gradually getting quieter (similar to decrescendo)

fine

the end

forte (f)

loud

fortissimo (ff)

very loud

legato

smoothly

lento

slow

mezzo

half

mezzo forte (mf)

moderately loud ("half" loud)

mezzo piano (mp)

moderately quiet ("half" quiet)

moderato

moderately

allegro moderato

moderately quick

piano (p)

quiet

pianissimo

very quiet

poco

a little

rallentando ( or rall.)

gradually getting slower (similar to ritardando)

ritardando (or ritard. or rit.)

gradually getting slower (similar to rallentando)

ritenuto (or riten. or rit.)

held back

staccato (or stacc. or a dot above or under a note)

detached

tempo

speed, time

a tempo

in time

8va

ottava (octave) - an octave higher

8ve (under a note or notes)

an octave lower

72 crotchet beats in a minute

con sordini (con sord.)

with mutes (strings and brass, italian)

senza sordini (senza sord.)

without mutes (strings and bass, italian)

arco

play withe the bow after pizzicato (strings, italian)

down bow

slur (strings)

played with one stroke of the bow for a legato effect (strings)

pizzicato

plucked (strings, italian)

sul ponticello

played near the bridge (strings, italian)

una corda

press the left pedal and make the piano quieter by only striking one string instead of the usual three (piano, italian)

tre corda

release the left pedal and allow the hammer to strike three strings (piano, italian)

press the right pedal (piano)

release the right pedal (piano)

mano

hand (piano, italian)

mano sinistra (m.s.)

left hand (piano, italian)

mano destra (m.d.)

right hand (piano, italian)

arpeggiated chord

spread the notes of a chord quickly, starting from the bottom note (piano, italian)

affettuoso

tenderly (italian)

affrettando

hurrying (italian)

amabile

amiable, pleasant (italian)