Orchestra Vocab

SLHS Orchestra Vocabulary

pizzicato

to pluck string

arco

play w bow

solo

piece for one person; one person plays

ensemble

piece for a group of musicians; group of musicians

cresc

gradually get louderd

decresc/dimenuendo

gradually get softer

scale

consecutive notes that ascend and descend, stating and ending on same notes

half step

smallest interval between notes

whole step

two half steps

slur

curved line that connects multiple notes

dynamics

volume level

piano

soft

forte

loud

mezzo

medium

allegro

fast, happy

andante

slow walking pace

ritardando

gradually slowing down

tempo

rate of speed

ledger lines

lines that extend the staff

tie

curved lines connecting notes of same pitch

simile

same style as before

cantabile

singing style

dolce

sweetly

rallentando

gradually getting slower

fermata

hold note/rest until directed

adagio

slow tempo

fine

the end

divisi

divide

accidental

sharps; natural; or flats that aren't in key

luftpaus

lift and pause

con

with

senza

without

sordino

mute

da capo

from beginning

dal segno

from the sign

coda

tag

moderato

moderate

al fine

through the end

syncopation

stress of weak off beat

andantino

slightly slower/faster than andante

molto

much

piu

more

a tempo

return to previous tempo

accelerando

gradually getting faster

GP - grand pause

rest for entire ensemble

poco

little

sul

on, near

trill

fastest oscillation between two notes

enharmonic

notes that have same pitch but different names

ponticello

bridge

tasto

fingerboard

maestoso

majestically

agitato

agitated

espressivo

expressive

subito

suddenly

presto

very fast

tranquillo

tranquil, calm

tonic

first scale degree

dominant

fifth scale degree

duet

piece for two people; two people play

volta

turn/time

detache

detached; not slurred

legato

long and smooth bow stroke

spiccato

bouncing the bow

martele

medium amount of space

marcato

hammered bow stroke

staccato

short and crisp

slurred

smoothest connection between notes

tremolo

shake the bow

loure

pulsed