2024 Fall Exam Review

Accelerando

Increasing gradually in tempo.

Al fine

Literally means 'to the end'; marks the end following a D.C. or D.S. statement.

Allargando

Growing broader and slowing down, similar to ritardando.

Arrangement

An adaptation of a composition into a different form than originally written.

Arco

Playing with the hair of the bow.

A tempo

Returning to the original tempo.

Cantabile

To be played singingly.

Coda

The closing measures of a composition, added for closure.

Col legno

Striking the strings with the wood of the bow.

Con

Means 'with'; for example, con sordino means 'with mute'.

Con gusto

Playing with energy.

Cue notes

Small notes written to help players keep their place in the music.

Da capo

Means 'back to the beginning'; indicated by D.C.

Dal segno

Means 'go back to the sign'; usually followed by an indication to stop or jump.

Diminuendo

Getting softer; the opposite of crescendo.

Divisi

Dividing parts or notes; one player plays the top note, another the bottom.

Dolce

To be played sweetly.

Ensemble

A group of musicians performing together.

Grace note

A quick, ornamental note placed before the main note.

Harmonic

Notes achieved by lightly pressing fingers on nodes along the string.

Legato

Smooth and connected playing without separation.

L’istesso tempo

The same tempo; indicating a constant beat when the meter changes.

Marcato

Marked and accented; often played shorter.

Meno

Means 'less'; as in meno mosso means 'less motion'.

Meter

Grouping of beats into regular patterns, such as 4/4 or 2/4.

Molto

Means 'very much'; e.g. molto meno mosso means 'much less motion'.

Morendo

Dying away or diminishing in volume.

Mosso

Motion.

Niente

Means 'nothing'; a dynamic mark indicating to decrease volume to silence.

Overture

The introductory music for an opera or similar work.

Pesante

Means heavy.

Piu

Means 'more'; e.g. piu mosso means 'more motion'.

Pizzicato

Plucking the string with fingers.

Poco a poco

Means little by little.

Quartet

A group of four players.

Quintet

A group of five players.

Ritardando

Slowing down in tempo.

Scordatura

Tuning the strings differently from standard tuning.

Sempre

Means always; e.g. sempre crescendo means always growing in volume.

Senza

Means without; e.g. senza vibrato means without vibrato.

Septet

A group of seven players.

Sextet

A group of six players.

Simile

Means in a similar manner; continue the established pattern.

Soli

The entire section playing in a solo-like manner.

Solo

A performance by a single player.

Sordino

Means mute.

Subito

Means suddenly or instantly.

Staccato

Means separated; notes are not connected.

Stringendo

Means accelerating; similar to accelerando.

Sul ponticello

Playing close to the bridge of the instrument.

Sul tasto

Playing close to or over the fingerboard.

Suite

A set of songs or dances; popular in the Baroque era.

Tempo

The speed of the beat, measured in beats per minute.

Tenuto

A very soft accent, often played with length.

Tremolo

Playing the note repeatedly within the indicated note value.

Trio

A group of three players.

Tutti

All instruments playing together.

Una corda

Means 'one string'; play a passage entirely on one string.

Detache

The standard smooth and connected bow stroke.

Hooked bow

Bow two or more notes with brief pauses between each.

Louree

A hooked bowing where each note sounds by adding weight with the finger.

Martele

A strong, accented bow stroke.

Spiccato

Bouncing, off the string.

Slur

Multiple notes played under one bow without a break in sound.