Words Beginning With A

Question 1

a (Italian or I), à (French)

Answer 1

At, to, by, for, in, in the style of

Question 2

Aber (German or G)

Answer 2

But

Question 3

A cappella (I)

Answer 3

Unaccompanied (referring to choral music - lit. (literally) ‘in church style’)

Question 4

Accelerando, accel. (I)

Answer 4

Gradually getting faster

Question 5

Adagietto (I)

Answer 5

Rather slow, but faster than adagio

Question 6

Adagio (I)

Answer 6

Slow (lit. ‘at ease’), generally held to indicate a tempo between andante and largo

Question 7

à deux, à 2 (F), a due, a 2 (I)

Answer 7

For two performers or instruments (in orchestral or band music, it means that a part is to be played in unison by two instruments)

Question 8

Ad libitum, ad lib. (Latin or L)

Answer 8

At choice, meaning either that a passage may be performed freely or that an instrument in a score may be omitted

Question 9

Affettuoso (I)

Answer 9

Tenderly

Question 10

Affrettando, affret. (I)

Answer 10

Hurrying

Question 11

Agitato (I)

Answer 11

Agitated

Question 12

Al, alla (I)

Answer 12

To the, in the manner of

Question 13

à la pointe (F), an der Spitze (G), a punto d’arco (I)

Answer 13

Use the bow (of a string instrument) at the pointe, i.e.the end opposite to that held by the player

Question 14

Alla breve (I)

Answer 14

With a minim beat, equivalent to 2/2 (C with a line through it); i.e. implying a faster tempo than the notes might otherwise suggest

Question 15

Alla marcia (I)

Answer 15

In the style of a march

Question 16

Allergando (I)

Answer 16

Broadening, i.e. getting a little slower and probably also a little louder

Question 17

Allegretto (I)

Answer 17

Fairly quick, but not quite as quick as allegro

Question 18

Allegro (I)

Answer 18

Quick (lit. ‘cheerful’)

Question 19

Als (German or G)

Answer 19

Than

Question 20

Alt (I)

Answer 20

High (‘in alt’ is used in vocal music to refer to notes in the octave above the treble stave, starting with the G; in ‘altissimo’, in the octave above that

Question 21

Al tallone (I), au talon (F), am Frosch (G)

Answer 21

Use the bow (of a string instrument) at the heel, i.e. the end held by the player

Question 22

Amabile (I)

Answer 22

Amiable, pleasant

Question 23

Amore (I), amour (F)

Answer 23

Love

Question 24

Amoroso (I)

Answer 24

Loving

Question 25

Andante (I)

Answer 25

At a walking pace (lit. ‘going’), indicating a medium speed (‘più andante’ and ‘molto andante’ are somewhat slower)

Question 26

Andantino (I)

Answer 26

Slightly faster than andante (but it can also mean slightly slower: the term is ambiguous)

Question 27

Anima (I)

Answer 27

Soul, spirit (‘con anima’ is ambiguous, meaning either ‘with feeling’ or ‘spirited’)

Question 28

Animando (I)

Answer 28

Becoming more lively

Question 29

Animato (I), animé (F)

Answer 29

Animated, lively

Question 30

Apaisé (F)

Answer 30

Calmed

Question 31

A piacere (I)

Answer 31

At pleasure, meaning that the performer is not bound to follow the given rhythm exactly

Question 32

Appassionato (I)

Answer 32

With passion

Question 33

Arco (I)

Answer 33

Bow of a string instrument, a direction after ‘pizzicato’

Question 34

Assai (I)

Answer 34

Very, extremely (but sometimes used in the same sense as ‘assez’)

Question 35

Assez (F)

Answer 35

Enough, sufficiently (but sometimes used in the same sense as ‘assai’)

Question 36

A tempo (I)

Answer 36

In time, indicating a return to the original speed after e.g. rit., rall.

Question 37

Attacca (I)

Answer 37

Go straight on, indicating an immediate move to the next section of music

Question 38

Ausdruck (G)

Answer 38

Expression (ausdrucksvoll: expressively)

Question 39

Avec (F)

Answer 39

With