PhilOrc Finals Big One

Accelerando

becoming faster

Accent

emphasis on a note

Adagio

at ease, slow tempo

Agitato

excited

Allargando

slower, broder, louder

Allegretto

somewhat slower than allegro

Allegro

fast tempo

Alto Clef

indicates middle C on third line of staff

Amoroso

tender and affectionate

Andante

walking tempo

Andantino

somewhat faster than andante

Animato

animated; lively

Appassionato

with intense emotion

Articulation

clarity of musical performance

Attack

promptness and decision in beginning a tone

Bar Line

separates a staff into measures

Bass Clef

indicates F below middle C on the fourth line of the staff

Caesura (//)

a brief, silent pause

Calando

gradually softer and slower

Calmo

calm, tranquil

Cantabile

in a singing style

Coda

ending section of a piece (sign indicates to go to coda)

Col Legno

hitting the string with the wood part of the bow

Con anima

with life and animation

Con fuoco

with energy or passion

Con brio

with vigor and spirit

Con moto

with motion

Con spirito

with spirit

Crescendo

get louder

Da capo (D.C.)

from the beginning

Decrescendo

get softer (synonym of diminuendo)

Del segno (D.S.)

from the sign

Detache

detached; articulation comes from the change of direction of the bow

Dolce

sweetly

Double Bar

indicates the end of a piece or section

Espressivo

expressively

Fermata

Hold the note

Fine

ending

First Ending

ending to be used the first time

Flat (b)

lowers a note one half-step

Forte (f)

loud

Forte-piano (fp)

loud immediately followed by soft

Fortissimo (ff)

very loud

Forzando, forzato (fz)

sudden, strong accent

Furioso

furious

Giocoso

humorous

Grandioso

with grandeur

Grand Pause (G.P.)

silence

Grave

grave; solemn

Key Signature

tells what notes to play sharp or flat in a piece or section

Largando

slowing down (synonym of ritardando and rallentando)

Largo

broad, very slowly

Legato

connected, smoothly

Lento

slow tempo (similar to largo)

L'istesso

the same tempo

Loure

linked bowing

Maelzel

metronome marking indicating number of beats per minute

Maestoso

majestically

Marcato

marked, stressed

Martele

a strongly articulated bow stroke used in marcato style

Marziale

march style

Measure repeat (∙/∙)

repeat the previous measure

Meno mosso

less motion

Mezzo piano (mp)

moderately soft

Mezzo forte (mf)

moderately loud

Moderato

moderate tempo

Molto

much

Morendo

dying away

Natural

cancels a sharp or flat

Niente

fade to nothing

Octave (8va)

play the music one octave higher

(8vb)

play the music one octave lower

Passionato

passionate

Pesante

heavy

Phrase

a complete musical thought or sentence

Pianissimo (pp)

very soft

Piano (p)

soft

Piu mosso

more motion

Pizzicato

plucking the string

Presto

very fast tempo

Rallentando (rall.)

gradual slackening in speed (synonym ritardando)

Repeat Sign

repeat back to the beginning or to the last facing repeat sign

Retardando (retard., rit.)

gradual slackening in speed (synonym of rallentando)

Ricochet

dropping or throwing the bow onto the string and letting it rebound a specific number of times (synonym of saltando)

Rubato

freely, not necessarily in tempo

Saltando

dropping or throwing the bow onto the string and letting it rebound a specific number of times (synonym of ricochet)

Scherzando

playful, lively

Second Ending

ending to be used upon taking a repeat

Segno

"the sign", go back to the sign at a D.S.

Sempre

always, continuously

Serioso

serious

Sforzando (sfz or sf)

sudden, strong accent

Simile

similarly, continue in the same manner

Sharp

raises a note one half-step

Slur

two or more notes connected by a single articulation

Sordamente

muted

Sostenuto

sustained, **legato**

Spiccato

bounced bowing

Staccato

short, detached

Staff

5 lines and 4 spaces, upon which music is written