A music terms

Term,Definition

"Aubade","A morning-song. Example: Siegfried Idyll by Wagner, written for his wife Cosima on her birthday."

"Atonal","Music with no specific key, tonality, or “home” note; often used to describe 20th-century compositions."

"Assai","Italian for 'very'; used in tempo markings like allegro assai (very fast) or assai moderato (very moderately fast)."

"Aria","A formally structured song in opera. Da capo aria repeats the first section with embellishments. Arietta = little aria; arioso = freer aria-like style."

"Arco","Italian for 'bow'; instructs string players to use the bow instead of plucking (pizzicato)."

"Arabesque","A composition featuring ornate, decorative melodic lines, often flowing and intricate. Inspired by Arabic art; seen in works like Debussy’s Deux Arabesques."

"Anthem","A short vocal composition, often non-liturgical in the Church of England. Full anthem = full choir; verse anthem = includes solo parts."

"Andante","Italian for 'walking'; indicates a moderate tempo. Andantino means slightly faster (or sometimes slower)."

"Alto","A voice type (lower female or male falsetto). Alto clef marks middle C on the third line; used in viola music."

"Allemande","A 4/4 time German dance, usually moderate in speed; often first in a Baroque suite, followed by a courante."

"Allegro","Italian for 'cheerful' or 'lively'; indicates a fast tempo, slower than vivace or presto. Allegretto = slightly slower."

"Alla","Italian for 'in the style of'; e.g., Rondo alla turca means 'Rondo in the Turkish Style'."

"Air","A tune or melody (also spelled ayre); similar to aria, used for voice or instruments."

"Adagio","Italian for 'slow'; indicates a slow tempo. Adagietto = a bit faster than adagio."

"Accompaniment","A secondary musical part supporting the main part (e.g., piano accompanying a singer or solo instrument)."

"A","A note on the musical scale, commonly used for tuning (called la in solfège)."

"Arpeggio","The tones of a chord played one after another in rapid succession."