Rcm level 7 theory terms

accelerando, accel.

becoming quicker

accent

a stressed note

ad libitum, ad lib.

at the liberty of the performer

adagio OR lento

slow

agitato

agitated

alla, all'

in the manner of

allegretto

fairly fast (a little slower than allegro)

allegro

fast

andante

moderately slow; at a walking pace

andantino

a little faster than andante

animato

lively, animated

ben , bene

well (for example) ben marcato: well marked.

cantabile

in a singing style

col ,coll', colla, colle,

with (for example, coll' ottawa: with an added octave)

con

with

con brio

with vigor and spirit

con espressione

with expression

con fuoco

with fire

con grazia

with grace

con moto

with motion

crescendo, cresc.

becoming louder

da capo, D.C.

from the beginning

dal segno, D.S.

from the sign

D.C. al Fine

repeat from beginning and end at Fine

decrescendo, decresc. OR diminuendo, dim.

becoming softer

dolce

sweet, gentle

dolente

sad

e, ed

and

espressivo, espress.

expressive

fine

the end

forte, f

loud

fortepiano, fp

loud, then suddenly soft

fortissimo, ff

very loud

giocoso

humorous, jocose, playful

grandioso

grand, grandiose

grave

slow and solemn

grazioso

graceful

larghetto

fairly slow, but not as slow as largo

largo

very slow

legato

smooth

leggiero

light, nimble, quick

loco

return to the normal register

ma

but (for example, ma non troppo: but not too much)

maestoso

majestic

mano destra, m.d.

right hand

mano sinistra, m.s.

left hand

marcato

marked or stressed

martellato

strongly accented, hammered

meno

less

meno mosso

less movement, slower

mesto

sad, mournful

mezzo forte, mf

moderately loud

mezzo piano, mp

moderately soft

moderato

at a moderate tempo

molto

much, very

morendo

dying, fading away

non

not

ottava, 8va

the interval of an octave

pedale, ped.

pedal

pesante

weighty, with emphasis

pianissimo, pp

very soft

piano, p

soft

più

more

più mosso

more movement (quicker)

poco

little

poco a poco

little by little

prestissimo

as fast as possible

presto

very fast

primo, prima

first; the upper part of a duet

quasi

almost, as if

quindicesima alta, 15ma

two octaves higher

rallentando, rall.

slowing down

risoluto

resolute, purposeful

ritardando, rit.

slowing down gradually

rubato

with some freedom of tempo to enhance musical expression

scherzando

playful

secondo, seconda

second; second or lower part of a duet

semplice

simple

sempre

always, continuously

senza

without

sforzando, sf, sfz

sudden strong accent of a single note or chord

simile

continue in the same manner as has just been indicated

sonore

sonorous

sopra

above

sostenuto

sustained (pedal)

sotto voce

soft, subdued, under the breath

spiritoso

spirited

staccato

detached

subito

suddenly

tacet

be silent

tempo

speed at which music is performed

Tempo primo (Tempo I) OR a tempo

return to the original tempo

tranquillo

quiet, tranquil

tre corde

three strings; release the left pedal (on the piano)

troppo

too much

tutti

a passage for the ensemble

una corda

one string; depress the left pedal (on the piano)

vivace

lively, brisk

vivo

lively

volta

time (for example, prima volta: first time; seconda volta: second time)