Comprehensive Guide to International Musical Terms and Symbols

Espressivo: An Italian musical term that directs the performer to play "with expression."
Cantabile: An Italian instruction implying that the music should be performed "in a singing style," typically characterized by a smooth, lyrical delivery.
Zart: A German term that translates to "sweet or tender," indicating a delicate and gentle performance style.
Tranquillo: A direction indicating that the music should be performed in a "calm or peaceful" manner.
Maestoso: An Italian term that signals a "majestic" performance, often suggesting a stately and grand character.
Giocoso: Indicates that the character of the music is "cheerful or humorous."
Bruscamente: A term that translates to "rough or abrupt," directing the performer to avoid smoothness.
Ruhig: A German instruction meaning "quiet or calm."
Sehr lebhaft: A German phrase translating to "very lively," indicating a high-energy and spirited performance.
Doucement: A French term instructing the musician to play "softly or gently."
Mit Ausdruck: A German expression that is the direct equivalent of the Italian term Espressivo, meaning "with expression."

Allegro non troppo: A tempo marking indicating that the speed is "fast but not too fast."
Ritardando: A directive for the performer to gradually "slow down" the tempo.
Langsam: A German term used to indicate a "slow" tempo.
Vite: A French term meaning "fast."
Cédez: A French instruction meaning "yielding or slowing down," often used to indicate a slight modification in tempo for expressive purposes.
Attacca: An instruction for the performer to "go immediately to the next section" without a pause or break in the music.

Poco a poco crescendo: A direction to get "louder little by little" (gradually increasing the volume over a span of time).
Meno: An Italian term meaning "less," often used as a modifier (e.g., $meno \, forte$ meaning less loud).
Sforzando ( $sf$ ): A dynamic marking indicating a "sudden strong accent" on a specific note or chord.
Piano: A fundamental dynamic marking meaning "soft."
Forte: A fundamental dynamic marking meaning "loud."
Kräftig: A German term translating to "strong or powerful."

En dehors: A French instruction to "bring out the melody," making it prominent compared to the accompaniment.
Mano sinistra: An Italian direction specifically for the "left hand."
G.P. (Generalpause): A notation indicating a "silence for everyone" in the ensemble; a grand pause where all instruments are silent.
A capriccio: An instruction for the performer to play in a "free, whimsical style" rather than a strictly metered one.
Sostenuto: A direction indicating that notes should be "sustained" or held for their full value.
Senza pedale: An instruction meaning the passage should be played "without pedal."
Legato: A performance technique where the notes are played "smoothly connected" to one another.
Léger: A French term translating to "light."

Acciaccatura: Characterized as a "very short, 'crushed' note" played just before the principal note.
Appoggiatura: An ornament that differs from the Acciaccatura because it "takes half the value of the main note" it precedes (or two-thirds in triple time).
Upper Mordent: A melodic ornament performed by playing the "main note, the note above it, and then the main note" in rapid succession.
Lower Mordent: A melodic ornament performed by playing the "main note, the note below it, and then the main note" in rapid succession.

Molto: An Italian modifier meaning "very."
Poco: An Italian modifier translating to "a little."
Ziemlich: A German term used to mean "quite or fairly," often modifying tempo or character markings.
Assez: A French term meaning "enough or quite."
Sans: A French preposition translating to "without."