Symphony Midterm

intonation

pitch accuracy

tone

the quality of sounds produced by the instrument and player

articuation

the style in which notes are performed with the bow

dynamics

the level of volume used when playing

tempo

the speed of the music

forte

dynamic marking that means to play strongly and loudly

piano

dynamic marking that means to play softly

arco

to play with the bow

pizzicato

to pluck the string

allegro

tempo marking meaning lively and fast

mezzo forte

dynamic marking meaning medium loud

mezzo piano

dynamic marking meaning medium soft

adagio

tempo marking meaning very slow

crescendo

to gradually increase in volume

decrescendo

to gradually decrease in volume

ritardando

to gradually slow down the tempo

accelerando

to gradually speed up the tempo

sharp

to raise a note by one half step

flat

to lower a not by one half step

natural

when a note is neither sharp nor flat

accent

to place emphasis on a particular note

staccato

articulation style that keeps notes short and detached

spiccato

a bow style that is lightly bounced off of the string

legato

articulation style where notes sound smooth and connected

tenuto

to hold a note for its full notated value

rallentando

to gradually slow down

marcato

heavy, accented bow style

con sordino

to play with a mute

senza sordino

to remove the mute from the instrument

enharmonic

two notes that sound the same, but are spelled differently

cantabile

to play in a singing style

dolce

to play sweetly

allegretto

tempo marking that is slightly slower than allegro

caesura

a sudden pause in the musics

sforzando

a sudden, strong accident

vibrato

technique in which the pitch is fluctuated to create a singing style

loure

bowing style that gives a slight separation in a slurred passage

dissonance

two or more notes that when played together cause tension

sul ponticello

to play on or near the bridge

glissando

to slide from one note to another

col legno

to play with the wood side of the bow

vivace

tempo marking that is faster than Allegro, also means lively

anacrusis

upbeat or pickup

sul tasto

to play over the fingerprint

andante

tempo marking meaning “walking pace”

poco tranquillo

calm and relaxed style

piu mosso

indicates the music should move faster

A tempo

original tempo

accelerando

tempo gradually speeds up

divisi

when written parts are divided amongst stand partners