theory

a tempo

in time

accelerando

accelerate (gradual increase)

adagio

slow tempo

allegretto

fast tempo

allegro

brisk tempo

andante

moderately slow tempo

cantabile

smooth

crescendo

loudest point after gradual increase

da capo

repeat from beginning

decrescendo

decrease in sound

diminuendo

decrease sound

dolce

sweetly

f (forte)

loudly

ff (fortissimo)

very loud

fine, al fine

to end

legato

smooth, no breaks

mf (mezzo forte)

moderately loud

moderato

moderate speed

mp (mezzo piano)

moderately softly

p (piano)

softly

pp (pianissimo)

very softly

rallentando (rall.)

gradual increase of speed

ritardando (rit. or ritard.)

gradual decrease of speed

staccato (stacc.)

detached notes

alla marcia

style of march

allargando

slower and fuller toned

con moto

with movement

con, col

with

dal segno (D.S.)

repeat

e, ed

and

espressivo (espress.)

expressively

fp (forte piano)

loud to soft

grave

slowest tempo (solemn)

grazioso

smooth, elegant

largo

slow, dignified

lento

slow, broad

ma

fast

meno

less quickly and less softly

meno mosso

less rapid

molto

fast tempo

non troppo

fast, but not too fast

più

more

più mosso

faster than the previous section

poco, poco a poco

crescendo

presto

fast

ritenuto (rit. or riten.

held back

senza

freely

vivo, vivace

lively

agitato

agitated, restless

andantino

slightly slower or faster

animato

animated, lively

ben

well

con forza

strong, forceful

energico

energetic

giocoso

playful, humerous

leggiero

light, nimble

maestoso

majestic

marcato (marc.)

emphatic, accented

pesante

heavy

prestissimo

as fast as possible

prima, primo

same speed as the first tempo

risoluto

bold, strong

scherzando

playful, joking

semplice

simple, plain

sempre

always

sforzando, sforzato, sfz, sf

forced, accented

simile (sim.)

in the same way

sostenuto, sost

sustained

subito, sub.

suddenly

tranquillo

calm

triste, tristamente

sad, sorrowful

affettuoso

tenderly

alla breve

with minim beat

amabile

amiable, pleasant

appassionato

with passion

assai

very

come prima

as before

comodo, tempo comodo

convienent, comfortable speed

con brio

with vigor

deciso

with determination

larghetto

rather slow, faster than largo

mesto

sad

misterioso

mysterious

ritmico

rhythmic

rubato, tempo rubato

with freedom of time

stringendo

gradually getting faster

animé

animated

douce

sweet, pleasant

lent

slow tempo

modéré

moderate

retenu

retained, held back

vite

lively

a niente

a sound that cant be heard, nothing

ad libitum, ad lib.

at choice, freely

attacca

go straight on

cantando

singing

con dolore

with grief

con spirito

spirited

doloroso

sorrowful

largamente

broadly