Music Terms and Signs (A-D)

Question 1

accelerando, accel.

Answer 1

becoming quicker

Question 2

accent

Answer 2

a stressed note

Question 3

ad libitum, ad lib.

Answer 3

at the liberty of the performer

Question 4

adagio

Answer 4

slow

Question 5

agitato

Answer 5

agitated

Question 6

alla, all’

Answer 6

in the manner of

Question 7

allargando, allarg.

Answer 7

broadening, becoming slower

Question 8

allegretto

Answer 8

fairly fast (a little slower than allegro)

Question 9

allegro

Answer 9

fast

Question 10

andante

Answer 10

moderately slow; at a walking pace

Question 11

andantino

Answer 11

a little faster than andante

Question 12

animato

Answer 12

lively, animated

Question 13

arco

Answer 13

on a bowed string instrument, resume bowing after a pizzicato passage

Question 14

a tempo

Answer 14

return to the original tempo

Question 15

attacca

Answer 15

proceed without a break

Question 16

ben, bene

Answer 16

well (for example, ben marcato: well marked)

Question 17

bewegt

Answer 17

moving

Question 18

calando

Answer 18

becoming slower and softer

Question 19

cantibile

Answer 19

in a singing style

Question 20

cedez

Answer 20

yield; hold the tempo back

Question 21

col, coll’, colla, colle

Answer 21

with (for example, coll’ottova: with an added octave)

Question 22

comodo

Answer 22

at a comfortable, easy tempo

Question 23

con

Answer 23

with

Question 24

con brio

Answer 24

with vigor, spirit

Question 25

con espressione

Answer 25

with expression

Question 26

con fuoco

Answer 26

with fire

Question 27

con grazia

Answer 27

with grace

Question 28

con moto

Answer 28

with motion

Question 29

con sordino

Answer 29

with mute

Question 30

crescendo, cresc.

Answer 30

becoming louder

Question 31

da capo, D.C.

Answer 31

from the beginning

Question 32

dal segno, D.S.

Answer 32

from the sign

Question 33

D.C. al Fine

Answer 33

repeat from the beginning and end at Fine

Question 34

decrescendo, decresc.

Answer 34

becoming softer

Question 35

diminuendo, dim.

Answer 35

becoming softer

Question 36

dolce

Answer 36

sad