Music Terms & Signs

dynamics: sforzando (sf) , sforzato (sfz)

forced, accented

tempo: andantino

slightly faster than andante

tempo: prestissimo

very fast

expression: agitato

agitated

expression: animato

animated, lively

expression: con forza

with force

expression: energico

energetic

expression: giocoso

playful, merry

expression: leggiero

light

expression: maestoso

majestic

expression: marcato (marc.)

emphatic, accented

expression: pesante

heavy

expression: risoluto

bold, strong

expression: scherzando

playful, joking

expression: semplice

simple, plain

expression: sostenuto (sost.)

sustained

expression: tranquillo

calm

expression: triste, tristamente

sad, sorrowful

ben

well

prima, primo

first

sempre

always

simile

in the same way

subito (sub.)

suddenly

tempo: allegro

quick

ben marcato

well accented

fermata

pause on the note or rest

poco leggiero

a little light

grave

very slow