Music Terms + Signs (RCM 6) Flashcards
(83 cards)
1
Q
accelerando, accel.
A
becoming quicker
2
Q
accent
A
a stressed note
3
Q
ad libitum, ad lib.
A
at the liberty of the performer
4
Q
adagio
A
slow
5
Q
alla, all’
A
in the manner of
6
Q
allegretto
A
fairly fast (slower than Allegro)
6
Q
andante
A
moderately slow; at a walking pace
7
Q
allegro
A
fast
8
Q
animato
A
lively, animated
8
Q
andantino
A
a little faster than andante
9
Q
ben, bene
A
well (for example, ben marcato: well marked)
10
Q
cantabile
A
in a singing style
11
Q
a tempo
A
return to the original tempo
12
Q
col, coll’, colla, colle
A
with (for example, coll’ottava: with an added octave)
13
Q
con
A
with
14
Q
con fuoco
A
with fire
14
Q
con brio
A
with vigor, spirit
14
Q
con espressione
A
with expression
15
Q
con moto
A
with motion
15
Q
con grazia
A
with grace
16
Q
crescendo
A
becoming louder
17
Q
da capo, D.C.
A
from the beginning
18
Q
dal segno, D.S.
A
from the sign
19
Q
D.C. al Fine
A
repeat from the beginning, end at FIne
20
decrescendo
becoming softer
21
diminuendo
becoming softer
22
dolce
sweet, gentle
23
e, ed
and
24
espressivo, espress.
expressive, with expression
25
fine
the end
26
forte
loud
27
forte piano fp
loud, then suddenly soft
28
fortissimo ff
very loud
29
grazioso
graceful
30
larghetto
fairly slow, but not as slow as largo
30
grave
slow and solemn
31
largo
very slow
32
legato
smooth
33
leggiero
light, nimble, quick
34
lento
slow
35
loco
return to the normal register
36
ma
but (for example, ma non troppo: but not too much)
37
maestoso
majestic
38
mano destra, m.d.
right hand
39
mano sinistra, m.s.
left hand
40
marcato
marked or stressed
41
meno
less
42
meno mosso
less movement, slower
43
mezzo forte mp
moderately loud
44
mezzo piano
moderately soft
45
moderato
at a moderate tempo
46
molto
much, very
47
non
not
48
ottava 8va
the interval of an octave
49
pedale, ped.
pedal
50
pianissimo pp
very soft
51
piano
soft
52
piu
more
53
piu mosso
more movement (quicker)
54
poco
little
55
poco a poco
little by little
56
presetissimo
as fast as possible
57
presto
very fast
58
primo, prima
first; the upper part of a duet
59
quasi
almost, as if
60
rallentando, rall.
slowing down
61
ritardando
slowing down gradually
62
rubato
with some freedom of tempo to enhance musical expression
63
secondo, seconda
second; a second or lower part of duet
64
sempre
always, continously
65
senza
without
66
sforzando, sf, sfz
sudden strong accent of a single note or chord
67
simile
continue as in the same manner as has just been indicated
68
spiritoso
spirited
69
staccato
detached
70
subito
suddenly
71
tempo
speed at which music is performed
72
tempo primo (Tempo I)
return to the og tempo
73
tranquillo
quiet, tranquil
74
tre corde
three strings; release the left pedal (on the piano)
75
troppo
too much
76
una corda
one string; depress the left pedal (on the piano)
77
vivace
lively, brisk
