Terms for a General Nature

To be played by both, as by first and second flute.

A due (a 2)

With

Avec

With the other part; often refers to accommodating the soloist at that place in the score

Colla parte

As before

Come prima

With; seen in other forms as a contraction with the article in Italian, thus: col, coi, colle, cogli, colla (depending upon the gender and number)

Con

Out in front of; means the part so marked should be projected through the ensemble; it must be heard.

En dehors

The first time

Erstes Mal

Somewhat.

Etwas

As loud as possible

Forte possible

The downbeat; to beat in time

Frappe; frapper

Quickly

Gleich

Slide; to slide

Glissez; glisser

Always

Immer

The same; used usually with the word tempo, meaning that the new part should be in the same tempo as the preceding part

L’istesso (lo stesso)

Marked, accented.

Marcato

Less.

Meno

Half; usually mezza voce, softly

Mezzo

Style, manner

Modo

Dying away.

Morendo

Motion

Moto

Broken octaves, lower note coming first.

Murkey bass

Change; usually reads muta in _____, meaning change the instrument to the pitch designated. Most often seen in timpani and French horn parts

Muta

Without; usually ohne Dämpfer, without mute.

Ohne

Otherwise; often refers to a simplified part – otherwise do it so.

Ossia

Full score.

Partitur; Partitura

Little

Petit

A little

Peu

At pleasure, denoting a passage executed at the discretion of the

performer.

Piacere, a piacere

Full

Pieno

More; most often seen with mosso, meaning more motion, slightly quicken the tempo.

Also, plus

Piu

Desk, a music stand. Usually refers to number of stands that are to play the part.

Pult

distinguishes the accompanying instruments from the soloist

Ripieno

Tranquil.

Ruhig

Without.

Sans

Quick, rapid, presto

Schnell

Fluently

Sciolto

Tuning contrary to the normal, addressed to the strings.

Scordatura

Dry, very short, no after-ring

Sec, secco

Follow, continue in the same manner.

Segue

Very

Sehr

Without; usually senza sordini, without mutes

Senza

Suddenly dying away.

Smorzando

In an undertone, soft voice

Sotto voce

With smooth voice.

Spianar la voce

Labored.

Stentato

A single voice or part in the score.

Stimme

Noisily

Strepitoso

Legato motion, smooth

Strisciando, strisciato

Suddenly, referring to a dynamic change.

Subito

Too much

Troppo

The whole ensemble, everybody.

Tutti

In unison; as violini unisoni, all violins in unison

Unisoni

A cut; VI is printed where the cut starts and DE is shown at the end of the cut, thus:

VI…DE

Vide

The old terminology for the baton

Virgula

Equal voices

Voci pari