orchestra terms

mezzo

half of

forte

loud

fortissimo

very loud

mezzo forte

half as loud

piano

soft

pianissimo

extremely soft

mezzo piano

half as soft as piano

crescendo

becoming louder

diminuendo

becoming softer

calando

becoming softer AND slower

a piacere

performed freely (at pleasure)

ad libitum

performed freely (at freedom)

brillante

brilliantly, sparkling

brio

enthusiasm, spirit

con brio

with enthusiasm

con spirito

spirited (with spirit)

cantabile

in a singing style

capriccioso

capricious, whimsical

dolce

sweet, soft (texture, not volume), loving

espressivo

expressive

fuoco

fire

con fuoco

with fire

giocoso

playful, humorous

grazioso

graceful, charming, pretty

largamente

broadly (character, not tempo)

marcato

accentuated, punctuated

marcatissimo

very much accentuated

pesante

heavy

portato

lengthened, sustained

risoluto

energetic, resolute

secco

dry

sostenuto

sustained, held

tenuto

sustained, held

tranquillo

tranquil, peaceful, calm

detache

a broad vigorous stroke on a string instrument in which every note is bowed singly, in a sustained legato matter

fermata

pause, stop on the note

restez

stay in the same position

sforzando

a sudden strong accent on a singly note or code

subito

sudden, at once

ossia

or; or rather; another way of playing