Tempo, Expression, and Articulation Markings Flashcards
1
Q
prestissimo
A
as fast as possible
2
Q
presto
A
very fast
3
Q
allegro
A
fast, quickly
4
Q
allegretto
A
moderately fast
5
Q
moderato
A
moderately paced
6
Q
andantino
A
moderately slow
7
Q
andante
A
slow but moving (walking)
8
Q
adagio/lento
A
slow
9
Q
larghetto
A
very slow but moving
10
Q
largo
A
very slow and broad
11
Q
grave
A
very slow and heavy
12
Q
ritardando
A
gradually slower
13
Q
rallentando
A
gradually slower and broader
14
Q
ritenudo
A
suddenly slower
15
Q
allargando
A
gradually slower and louder
16
Q
calando
A
gradually slower and softer
17
Q
sostenuto
A
sustaining
18
Q
accelerando
A
gradually faster
19
Q
stringendo
A
gradually faster and hastening
20
Q
piu allegro
A
more lively
21
Q
piu mosso
A
more motion
22
Q
meno mosso
A
less motion
23
Q
morendo
A
dying away
24
Q
tempo rubato
A
taken freely
25
a piacere
at pleasure
26
tempo giusto
in exact tempo
27
alla misura
strict tempo
28
senza misura
freely
29
a tempo
previous tempo
30
tempo primo
first tempo
31
l'istesso tempo
same tempo
32
sforzando
with sudden emphasis
33
leggiero
light
34
accelerando
with increasing speed
35
agitato
in an agitated manner
36
amoroso
lovingly
37
animato
in a lively manner
38
appassionato
impassioned
39
cantabile
in a singing style
40
con affeto
with tender emotion
41
con amore
with love
42
con anima
with spirit
43
con brio
vigorously
44
con fuoco
with fire
45
con moto
quickly
46
dolce
gently and sweetly
47
doloroso
in a sorrowful manner
48
energico
energetically
49
espressivo
expressively
50
furioso
in a frantically rushing manner
51
giocoso
merry
52
grazioso
graceful
53
lacrimoso
sad and mournful
54
maestoso
majestically
55
marziale
martial, military-like
56
non troppo/non tanto
not too much
57
pomposo
in a pompous manner
58
scherzando
in jocular style
59
sciolto
free and easy
60
smorzando
dying away
61
sospirando
"sighing"
62
sotto voce
extremely quiet
63
strascinando
stretched out
64
stringendo
with increasing speed
65
vivace
in a brisk, lively manner
66
volante
"flying," light and fast
67
marcato
with emphasis
68
forzando
can be used interchangeable with sforzando, "forced," strongly accent the notes over which the marking occurs
69
rinforzando
"reinforcing" or "strengthening," increase volume of a group of notes throughout a phrase, similar to a crescendo but over a shorter length of time
70
tenuto
"to hold," hold the note for its full value
71
portato
"to carry," smoothly detach the notes similarly to a legato, but shorter in length and longer than a staccato. A smooth, pulsing articulation
72
staccato
"to detach," shortly detach the note
73
staccastissimo
an extremely shortened note
74
con bravura
with bravery
75
con grazia
with grace
76
con tenerezza
with tenderness
77
affretando
"to hurry," quickening of the tempo and a mood of agitation
78
slentando
"to slow down," gradually decrease the tempo as the music slows down
79
allargando
"to widen," gradually decrease tempo in a deliberate and imposing character
80
con sordino
with mute
