Orchestra 9th Music Glossary - 1/12/26

largo

very slow

larghetto

faster than largo

adagio

slow, leisurely

lento

slow

andante

walking tempo

andantino

faster than andante

moderato

moderate

allegretto

slower than allegro

allegro

fast

presto

very fast

prestissimo

as fast as possible

accelerando

gradually get faster

allargando

gradually decreasing in tempo and broadening in manner

meno Mosso

less motion

piú mosso

more motion

ritardando

gradually get slower

stringendo

increasing tempo suddenly and continually

vivace

lively, animated, brisk

agitato

agitated

animato

animated

cantabile

in a singing style

espressivo

expressively

dolce

sweetly

forza

force

grazioso

gracefully

leggiero

lightly

maestoso

majestically

pesante

heavy

rubato

taking a little more time on some notes for musical expression

sostenuto

sustained

soto voce

under the voice or whisper

tenuto

sustained, held for full value

a tempo

return to the original tempo or previous tempo

con

with

con sordino

with mute

molto

very

sempre

always, continuously

poco a poco

little by little

senza

without

senza sordino

without the mute

simile

in the same manner

subito

suddenly

tacet

do not play

tutti

all, everyone plays

col legno

to play with the stick of the bow

detaché

separate bow direction for each unslurred note

legato

smooth and connected

marcato

marked and stressed

spiccato

to be played off the string

staccato

short notes with separation

sul ponticello

to be played on or near the bridge

sul tasto

to be played on the fingerboard

tremolo

play as many notes as possible, usually at the tip of the bow