Terminology Sheet

Question 1

accelerando (accel.)

Answer 1

gradually growing faster

Question 2

accidental

Answer 2

chromatic alteration of a note from the key signature until the next bar line (can be extended by a tie)

Question 3

ad libitum (ad lib) or a piacere

Answer 3

at pleasure, at will

Question 4

a duo (a 2)

Answer 4

for two parts

Question 5

affetuoso

Answer 5

tenderly, with feeling

Question 6

alla breve

Answer 6

2/2 time, cut time

Question 7

allargando

Answer 7

getting slower and louder

Question 8

amoroso

Answer 8

with love, with warm feeling

Question 9

animato or con anima

Answer 9

lively, animated, spirited

Question 10

appassionato or passione

Answer 10

passionate, fervent

Question 11

assai

Answer 11

much, very

Question 12

a tempo

Answer 12

return to the original tempo

Question 13

attacca

Answer 13

continue without a pulse

Question 14

bravura

Answer 14

great technical skill, virtuosity

Question 15

brillante

Answer 15

sparkling, spirited

Question 16

cadenza

Answer 16

a brilliant (often highly technical) solo, often found at the end of a movement or a piece

Question 17

cadence

Answer 17

the close of a melodic or harmonic phrase

Question 18

calmando or calmato

Answer 18

quieting down, subsiding

Question 19

cantando or cantabile

Answer 19

in a singing style, lyrical

Question 20

capriccioso

Answer 20

fanciful, freely

Question 21

coda

Answer 21

a concluding passage added to the form proper

Question 22

con

Answer 22

with

Question 23

con brio

Answer 23

with vigor, vigorously

Question 24

con forza

Answer 24

with force, strength

Question 25

con fuoco

Answer 25

with fire, passionately

Question 26

con sordino

Answer 26

with mute

Question 27

con spirito or spiritoso

Answer 27

with spirit

Question 28

crescendo

Answer 28

becoming louder

Question 29

da capo (D.C.)

Answer 29

from the beginning

Question 30

dal segno (D.S.)

Answer 30

from the coda sign

Question 31

decrescendo (dresc.)

Answer 31

becoming softer

Question 32

diatonic

Answer 32

notes with a given scale or key

Question 33

divisi

Answer 33

divided parts where there is normally one

Question 34

dolce

Answer 34

sweet, gentle

Question 35

doppio movimento

Answer 35

twice as fast

Question 36

double flat

Answer 36

lower by one full step

Question 37

double sharp

Answer 37

raised by one full step

Question 38

dynamics

Answer 38

level of loudness

Question 39

pianississimo (ppp)

Answer 39

very, very soft

Question 40

pianissimo (pp)

Answer 40

very soft

Question 41

piano (p)

Answer 41

soft

Question 42

mezzo piano (mp)

Answer 42

medium soft

Question 43

mezzo forte (mf)

Answer 43

medium loud

Question 44

forte (f)

Answer 44

loud

Question 45

fortissimo (ff)

Answer 45

very loud

Question 46

fortississimo (fff)

Answer 46

very, very loud

Question 47

e, ed or et

Answer 47

and

Question 48

espressivo

Answer 48

with feeling, with expression

Question 49

etude

Answer 49

a study or exercise focusing on a particular technical or musical problem

Question 50

fermata

Answer 50

a pause or hold

Question 51

finale

Answer 51

last movement of a multi-movement work

Question 52

fine

Answer 52

the end

Question 53

forzando

Answer 53

a strong accent

Question 54

giocoso

Answer 54

humorous, playful

Question 55

giusto

Answer 55

exact, appropriate or usual tempo

Question 56

glissando

Answer 56

a glide from one note to the next

Question 57

grazioso

Answer 57

graceful

Question 58

interval

Answer 58

pitch difference between two notes

Question 59

key signature

Answer 59

sharps or flats placed at the beginning of a selection indicating its key

Question 60

largamente

Answer 60

broadly

Question 61

legato

Answer 61

smooth, even, without breaks between notes

Question 62

l'istesso tempo

Answer 62

at the same tempo

Question 63

loco

Answer 63

return to normal position

Question 64

maestoso

Answer 64

majestic, with dignity

Question 65

marcato

Answer 65

accented, stressed

Question 66

marica

Answer 66

march

Question 67

meno

Answer 67

less

Question 68

molto

Answer 68

much, very

Question 69

morendo

Answer 69

fading away

Question 70

mosso or moto

Answer 70

moved, motion

Question 71

non

Answer 71

no, do not

Question 72

nuance

Answer 72

subtle shading in style

Question 73

ossia

Answer 73

an alternate version

Question 74

pesante

Answer 74

weighty, ponderous

Question 75

piu

Answer 75

more

Question 76

pochissimo

Answer 76

as little as possible

Question 77

poco a poco

Answer 77

little by little

Question 78

pomposo

Answer 78

stately, pompous

Question 79

quasi

Answer 79

almost, as if

Question 80

rallentando (rall.)

Answer 80

becoming slower

Question 81

ritardando (ritard. or rit.)

Answer 81

becoming slower

Question 82

ritenuto (riten.)

Answer 82

immediately slower

Question 83

rinforzando (rfz)

Answer 83

a sudden accent

Question 84

rubato

Answer 84

free use of accel. and rit. within a measure- without altering the duration of the measure as a whole

Question 85

sans or senza

Answer 85

without

Question 86

scherzando

Answer 86

playfully

Question 87

segue

Answer 87

continue without pausing

Question 88

sempre

Answer 88

always, throughout

Question 89

sforzando (sfz)

Answer 89

a sudden accent

Question 90

simile

Answer 90

in the same manner

Question 91

soli

Answer 91

a section solo, a group of soloists

Question 92

solo

Answer 92

a part for one performer

Question 93

sonore

Answer 93

resounding, loud

Question 94

sordino

Answer 94

mute

Question 95

sostenuto (sost)

Answer 95

sustained