Chapter 7: Musical Expression Tempo and Dynamics

Tempo

The rate of speed or pace of music

- italian terms designate musical tempo

Dynamics

Element of music expression relating to the degree of loudness or softness, or volume, of a sound.

Pianissimo (pp)

Very soft

Mezzo forte (mf)

Moderately loud

Piano (p)

Soft

Forte (f)

Loud

mezzo piano（mp）

moderately soft

Fortissimo

Very loud (ff)

Crescendo (

Growing louder

Decreascendo or diminuendo (>)

Growing softer

What helps shape the expressive content of a work?

Composer adds markings for tempo and dynamics

- domain of the composer

Grave

Solemn (very, very slow)

Largo

Broad (very slow)

Adagio

Quite slow

Andante

A walking pace

Moderato

Moderate

Allegro

Fast

Vivace

Lively

Presto

Very fast

What indicates a fast tempo?

Vivace

Tempo markings

Grave, adagio, presto, andante, allegro

Dynamic markings

Mezzo forte, pianissimo, fortissimo,piano, forte, mezzo piano

Dynamics denotes the ___ at which music is played.

Volume

What markings indicates a lively tempo?

Vivace

The composer adds markings for ___tempo (the rate of speed) and _____ to help shape the expressive content of a work.

Tempo; dynamics

Tempo and dynamic markings are usually given in

Italian

Tempo refers to the

Rate of speed

What indicated a fast tempo ?

Vivace

What indicates a slow tempo?

Grave

If the music is gradually speeding up, the term used to describe this is

Accelerando

A musical modifier?

Non-troppo

What indicates a change in tempo?

Accelerando

Returning to the original tempo after a change in the music is indicated by the markings ____ in the score.

A tempo

What term means getting slower?

Decrescendo

Dynamics determine the ____ at which music is played.

Volume

Musical sound is performed at varying volumes, also known as the music's ______.

Dynamics

What term indicated that a work should be performed very loudly?

Fortissimo

What abbreviation indicated a moderate dynamic level?

Mf

Pianissimo is indicated by the abbreviation _____.

Pp

What dynamic marking indicates to the performer to play gradually louder?

Crescendo

Gradually getting softer in music is indicated by which term in the score?

Diminuendo

If a composer wants to indicate tempo precisely, a ______ indication is given in the score.

Beats per minute (bpm)

If a composer wants to indicate despair or sadness in a piece of music, what tempo would be appropriate?

Grave

True/false. Composers use tempo and dynamic markings to communicate to the performer the music's intended expressive quality?

True

True/false. Composers of the late 18th and 29th centuries used even fewer expression marks than their predecessors.

False