Musical Terms Grade 3

Question 1

adagietto

Answer 1

rather slow (faster than adagio)

Question 2

ad libitum

ad lib.

Answer 2

the marked passage can be played freely (“at choice”)

Question 3

agitato

Answer 3

agitated

Question 4

alla breve

Answer 4

with a minim beat, for example in cut-common or 2/2 time.

The term implies “double the speed”, so a passage in 4/4 ( with four beats in the bar) would be performed as it had two beats in the bar, with the crotchets would be “felt” as quavers.

Question 5

amore

Answer 5

love

Question 6

amoroso

Answer 6

loving

Question 7

anima

Answer 7

soul, spirit (con anima: with feeling / spirited)

Question 8

animato

Answer 8

animated, lively

Question 9

animando

Answer 9

becoming more lively

Question 10

ben

Answer 10

well

Question 11

brio

Answer 11

vigour (con brio: with vigour, i.e. lively)

Question 12

comodo

Answer 12

convenient (tempo comodo: at a comfortable speed)

Question 13

deciso

Answer 13

“decided”, with resolution, determined

Question 14

delicato

Answer 14

delicate

Question 15

energico

Answer 15

energetic

Question 16

forza

Answer 16

force

Question 17

largamente

Answer 17

broadly

Question 18

leggiero

Answer 18

light, (as in not heavy), nimble

Question 19

marcato

marc.

Answer 19

emphatic, accented

Question 20

marziale

Answer 20

“martial”, in a military style

Question 21

mesto

Answer 21

sad

Question 22

pesante

Answer 22

heavy

Question 23

prima

primo

Answer 23

first

Question 24

risoluto

Answer 24

bold, strong

Question 25

ritmico

Answer 25

rhythmically

Question 26

rubato

Answer 26

“robbed” ; tempo rubato, “robbed time” ; disregarding strict time for expressive effect

Question 27

scherzando | scherzoso

Answer 27

playful, joking

Question 28

seconda | secondo

Answer 28

second

Question 29

semplice

Answer 29

simple, plain

Question 30

sempre

Answer 30

always

Question 31

strigendo

Answer 31

gradually getting faster

Question 32

subito

Answer 32

suddenly

Question 33

tanto

Answer 33

as / so much (non tanto: not so much)

Question 34

tranquillo

Answer 34

tranquil, calm

Question 35

triste | tristamente

Answer 35

sad, sorrowful

Question 36

volta

Answer 36

time (as in occasion, e.g. prima volta: first time, seconda volta : second time)