Conducting Terminology

Grave

Very slow and solemn

Largo

Broad, wide, and stately

Largamente

Broadly, slowly

Adagio

Slow, comfortable, or “at ease”

Andante

At a moderate walking pace

Allegretto

Fairly fast; slightly slower than allegro

Allegro

Fast, lively, and cheerful

Vivace

Very lively, brisk, and fast

Presto

Extremely Fast

Ritardando

Gradually delaying or slowing down the speed

Rallentando

Gradually slowing down/letting go

Allargando

Broadening out, gradually slowing down and growing louder

Stringendo

Pressing forward; gradually accelerating

A tempo

Return to the previous original speed

Tempo primo

Return to the very first tempo of the piece

Mosso

Moved, agitated, or motion filled

Moto

Motion

Agitato

Agitated, excited, or hurried. Play with a restless energy, often featuring a rapid, tense bow stroke or slightly sharper attacks

Animato

Animated, lively, and spirited. Bring brightness to the texture, infusing the melody with spontaneous, forward-moving life.

Maestoso

Majestic, stately, and dignified. Require a powerful, grounded tone, full note lengths, and precise, proud rhythms.

Morendo

Dying away; fading in both volume and speed. Let the phrase gradually dissolve into total silence, combining a decrescendo with a gentle ritardando.

Scherzando

Playfully, lightly, or jokingly. Keep the touch buoyant, bouncy, and light-hearted, utilizing crisp spacing between notes.

Secco

Dry, short, and crisp without resonance. Halt sound immediately after striking the note; avoid using the sustain pedal on piano or extra ring on percussion.

Sotto voce

Subdued; in a quiet, hushed, or whispered tone. Literally translates to "under the voice". Play with reduced volume but deep intensity, like a shared secret.

Tranquillo

Tranquil, calm, and peaceful. Maintain a perfectly steady pulse, smooth legato connections, and relaxed physical mechanics.

Con

with

Senza

Without

Molto

Much or very

Mezzo

Half or medium

Meno

Less

Piu

More

Poco

A little

Troppo

Too much

Sempre

Always

Subito

Suddenly

Simile

In the same manner

Come prima

As at first

L’istesso

The same

Ossie

Alternatively

Attacca

Proceed immediately to the next section or movement without pausing. Do not drop your instrument or let the momentum break.

Guisto

Strict, proper, or exact (commonly tempo giusto —in strict, appropriate time). Play without expressive fluctuations, lock straight into the pulse.

Intermezzo

A short, light musical interlude or connecting movement inserted between larger structural acts.

Marcato

Heavily accented, marked, or stressed. Every note is punched out forcefully to

stand out prominently from the background texture.

Sforzando

A sudden, sharp accent on a single note or chord. Requires an immediate explosive burst of sound followed quickly by a return to context dynamics.

Sordino

A mute device. Con sordino means attach the mute to soften and veil the instrument's tone color

Sostenuto

Sustained; hold notes fully for their maximum time value. Elongate notes smoothly into one another without gaps.

Staccato

Separated, detached, and crisp. Indicated by a dot above or below the notehead, leaving clear space before the next pitch.

Tenuto

Held or sustained for its full value, sometimes with slight physical emphasis. Indicated by a horizontal line over the note.

Tacet

Silent. Indicates that an entire voice, instrument, or section does not play at all during that specific movement.

Tutti

All together. Dictates that the entire ensemble or orchestra performs simultaneously, usually following a featured solo section.