Grade 4 Theory Terminology

Tempo comodo

At a comfortable speed

Tempo giusto

At a consistent speed

L'istesso tempo

At the same speed

Non troppo

Not too much

Grave

Slow and solemn

Rubato

With some freedom in the time

Stringendo

Pressing on faster

Perdendosi

Fading away

Smorzando

Dying away

Rinfrozando (rfz, rf)

Reinforcing the tone

Pesante

Heavily

Cantando

In a singing style

Tenuto (ten.)

Held

Piacevole

Pleasant, agreeable

Dolente

Sadly, plaintively

Doloroso

Sadly, plaintively

Sotto voce

Softly in an undertone

Giocoso

Cheerful, humorous, merry

Grazioso

Gracefully

Assai

Very

Quasi

As if, as it were

Scherzando

Playfully

Subito (sub.)

Suddenly

Violin string tuning

G D A E

Viola string tuning

C G D A

Cello String Tuning

C G D A

Double Bass String Tuning

E A D G

Arco

With the bow (after a pizz. sign)

Pizzicato (pizz)

Pluck the string with the finger

Portamento

A smooth gliding from one note to another

Sul Ponticello

Bow on or near the bridge

Sul tasto

Bow on or near the fingerboard

Tremolo

Bowing very rapidly to produce a shimmering or wavering effect

Order of Baroque Dances

Allemande, Courante, Sarabande, Gigue

Optional dances between Sarabande and Gigue

Gavotte and Minuet

Ornaments

Embellishments that serve to decorate a melodic line, adding interest and variety, allows emphasis or certain notes

Upper Mordent

Lower Mordent

Turn

Trill

Acciaccatura

Appoggiatura

Counterpoint

A kind of musical texture which features simultaneous combinations of two of more melodic lines. Music that combines independent melodies this way are considered contrapuntal

Homophonic

Music in which a primary melodic line is supported by a secondary or accompanying lines/chords

Imitation

Successive statements of the same (or similar) melody in each of the voice parts, so that one part imitates the other

Syncopation

Rhythmic shift by accenting the ‘weak’ beats in a bar

Hemiola

A variety of rhythmic device where there is a change between hearing 6 equal notes as two groups of 3 and three groups of 2