ABRSM Grade 5 Theory

a niente

to nothing

a tempo

at the previous or original tempo

accelerando (accel)

gradually getting quicker

adagio

slow

affettuoso

tenderly

agitato

agitated

alla breve

with a minim beat, equivalent to common time 2/2, implying a faster tempo than the note values might otherwise suggest

alla marcia

in a march style

allargando

broadening, getting a little slower and probably a little louder

allegretto

fairy quick, but not as quick as allegro

allegro

quick, literally cheerful

andantino

slightly faster than andante, but also might mean slightly slower

animé

animated, lively

appassionato

with passion

cantando

singing

comodo / tempo comodo

convenient / at a comfortable speed

con brio

with vigour

con spirito

with spirit or animation

deciso

with determination

douce

sweet

e, ed

and

fine / al fine

the end

forte (f)

loud

fortepiano (fp)

loud, then immediately soft

grave

very slow, solemn

langsam

slow

lebhaft

lively

lento

slow

mezzo forte (mf)

moderately loud

mezzo piano (mp)

moderately quiet

molto

very, much

perdendosi

dying away

pesante

heavy

piu mosso

more movement / faster

prestissimo

faster than presto

quasi

as if, resembling

rallentando (rall.)

gradually getting slower

retenu

held back

risoluto

bold / strong

ritmico

rhythmically

ruhig

peaceful

smorzando (smorz)

dying away in tone and speed

sotto voce

in an undertone

triste, tristamente

sad

vite

quick

ad libtum (ad lib)

at choice, meaning a passage may be played freely

amabile

amiable, pleasant

andante

at a medium walking speed

animato

animated, lively

assai

very

attacca

go straight onto the next session of music

ben

well

cantabile

in a singing style

come prima

as before

con dolore

with grief

con forza

with force

con moto

with movement

con, col

with

crescendo (cresc.)

gradually getting louder

da capo (D.C.)

repeat from the beginning

dal segno (D.S.)

repeat from the sign

decrescendo (decresc.)

gradually getting quieter

diminuendo (dim.)

gradually getting quieter

dolce

sweet, soft

doloroso

sorrowful

energico

energetic

espressivo (espress.)

expressive

fortissimo (ff)

very loud

giocoso

playful, merry

grazioso

graceful

largamente

broadly

larghetto

rather slow, but not as slow as largo

largo

slow, stately

legato

smoothly

leggiero

light, nimble

lent

slow

ma

but

maestoso

majestic

marcato (marc.)

emphatic, accented

massig

at a moderate speed

meno

less

meno mosso

slower

mesto

sad

misterioso

mysterious

moderato

moderately

modéré

at a moderate speed

morendo

dying away

non troppo

not too much

pianissimo (pp)

very quiet

piano (p)

quiet

piu

more

poco / poco a poco

a little

presto

fast, faster than allegro

prima, primo

first

rinforzando (rf, rfz, rinf)

reinforcing

ritardando (rit. / ritard.)

gradually getting slower

ritenuto (rit. / riten.)

held back

rubato, tempo rubato

with some freedom of time

scherzando

playful, joking

schnell

fast