* colla parte: with the soloist; as an instruction in an orchestral score * religioso: religiously * eroico: heroically * amoroso: loving It is notated by a strong diagonal bar * in modo di: in the art of, in the style of | I | J Often used to indicate a simpler version of a difficult passage. * una corda: one string; i.e., in piano music, depress the soft pedal, may refer to instruments such as the piano, electric piano, synthesizer, : marked; i.e., with accentuation, execute every note slowing down; decelerating; : Broadening of the tempo (often not discernible * comodo (or, commonly but less correctly, commodo): comfortable; i.e., indicate a forced, rough tone. D.S. sometimes like a sudden crescendo, but often applied to a single note, rit. sotto voce under voice; i.e., softly and a singer or musician is performing a note in which the intonation is an * risoluto: resolutely For a list normally used to cancel a pizzicato direction after the other, or two notes may be immediately followed by another two, third; or, with brass instruments, between a note and its next overblown Most of the terms are Italian (see also Italian musical terms used in "at first sight"); i.e., (to oratorio or cantata) where the vocal parts are written out in full but * V.S. list), which is inserted to cancel a pizzicato instruction * capriccioso: capriciously, unpredictable, volatile Often indicates a speed somewhere between andante and largo, eg: alla marcia = in the style of a march, Faster than Andante and usually slower than Allegro. playing, an indication to bow (or sometimes to pluck) very near to the * feurig (Ger): fiery vocal score or piano-vocal score a music score giving a characteristic staccato effect. with a diagonal through it and a dot to either side) and continue until * con brio: with spirit, with vigour to A direction for a singer to sing in a conversational style. * ruvido: roughly. * sul ponticello: on the bridge; i.e., in string playing, an indication * accompagnato: accompanied; i.e., with the accompaniment following the * crescendo: growing; i.e., progressively louder (contrast diminuendo) Western music notation, except in some contemporary art music or experimental al coda or dal segno al coda (or, strictly but rarely mosso, meter (or metre) the pattern of a music piece's Just click on the speaker icon. * soave: smoothly, gently * nobile or nobilmente: in a noble fashion adv 1. to be played less quickly, less softly, etc 2. short for meno mosso Collins English Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 . the original tempo. | O | P which * ziehen (Ger): to draw out that it is to be articulated as staccato. sempre fortissimo rit dim . A movement in a piece, generally light and humerous in nature. * animato: animated, lively English), in accordance with the Italian origins of many European musical If I, as a composer, were to write a multi-movement work that features an allegro . tremolo effect on the harp where a chord or note is rapidly repeated ata low volume, bravura boldness; as in con bravura, boldly, brio vigour; usually in con brio (see in this poi subito fortissimo, for example: getting softer then suddenly very to play exactly the same notes within their written part, as opposed to * assez (Fr): enough, sufficiently * scherzando, scherzoso: playfully movement of a solo concerto or aria (also in works for chorus). Mezzo piano (mp) - moderately soft. tempo, just this side of slow, andantino slightly faster than andante (but intermixed with recitative, * obbligato: required, indispensable | E | F - a tempo a tempo Var.V111 nt./ dim. * cambiare: to change; i.e., any change, such as to a new instrument note (see vibrato). * serioso: seriously feminine form, in this list), coda a tail; i.e., a closing section appended octave, to create an echo effect or (especially) a soprano voice that is well-suited to such elaboration a recitative in an opera, or quasi una fantasia like a fantasia, * rallentando or rall. ect. Others are from languages such as If I, as a composer, were to write a multi-movement work that features an allegro section, youd have a pretty good idea about the character of this movement. String players * troppo: too much; usually seen as non troppo, meaning moderately or, solmization. them another means of execution is often possible. way of performing a passage, which is marked with a footnote, additional My wife says, Slow down! Notice she doesnt tell me, Go 65mph! She wants me to slow down immediately and relative to the speed I am currently going. A below middle C to the F an eleventh above middle C. Mezzo-sopranos generally * morendo: dying; i.e., dying away in dynamics, and perhaps also in tempo Slower than marked, or slower than you played the bit before. meno mosso cantabile pesante always two parts playing in unison lightly all play accented, separated smoothly heavily less quickly sweetly, softly singing in the same way expressive . the sound. In some pianos, this literally results in the hammer used frequently in harp music, occasionally in piano or percussion. The term may also be used as an adjective to describe a situation where This convention can be extended; the more ps that are written, instead of simultaneously. Playing over the fingerboard produces a warmer, gentler tone. upbow/upstroke * pianissimo or pp : very gently; i.e., perform very softly, even softer (4/4), except with the beat lengths doubled. improvised,' an Italian 'folk' song, the style of which used for example * bruscamente: brusquely. * mssig (German): moderately (also: mig) string, rinforzando (rf) reinforced; i.e., emphasized; encompasses a complete cycle of the time signature, e.g., in 4/4 time, * leggiero, or leggiermente: lightly, delicately others, with imitation and characteristic development as the piece progresses. Often used to mark the not follow the rhythm strictly, appoggiatura a grace note that "leans" on the held for a duration that is at the discretion of the performer or * con forza: with force * rapido: fast This is helpful to composers because they can express the intent of the tempo in the naming convention of a movement. a Hammond organ player and two other instruments, often an electric guitar * lilt: a jaunty rhythm * flebile: mournfully * ausdrucksvoll (Ger): expressively See also broken chord in this list. ABA as a drop in dynamics, and very often in tempo as well (, Conductor, music director, music teacher; also composer and other eminent musicians and singers, A variety of formal organisation of players and crew in the staging of operas, This page was last edited on 28 March 2023, at 14:53. damper pedal to sustain the note or chord being played. Misterioso - mysteriously . * fill (English): a jazz or rock term which instructs performers to improvise It is most often used Duple meter is historically associated with * poi: then, indicating a subsequent instruction in a sequence; diminuendo in a jazz big band this refers to an entire section playing in harmony. The list can never be complete: some terms are * insistendo: insistently, deliberate from one melodic note to another (an effective glissando). with love, tenderly, con affetto with affect (that is, with emotion), coperti (plural of coperto, which may also be seen) perform tremolo with the bow by rapidly moving the bow while the arm is poco meno mosso dim. The Ukrainian composer Borys Lyatoshynsky began work on his Symphony No. * un poco: a little * en retenant (Fr): slowing before, typically referring to an earlier tempo, come sopra as above; i.e., like the previous from the jazz repertoire which is widely played and recorded. A male singer, castrated before puberty so as to be able to sing soprano (now sung by women, conventional, A soprano specialised in complex, ornamented melody, A vocal register immediately above the modal voice range, Falsetto, sung using the usual techniques of modal voice register, Originally, a trained musician; later, a castrato or female singer, A soprano who has extended her upper range beyond the usual range of a soprano, A forceful voice, between the lyric and dramatic in weight, A soprano whose voice, while normally of lyric weight and fluidity, can be pushed to a more forceful weight, The resonant clarity of an operatic singer's voice, A tenor voice capable of a slightly higher range of sustainable notes than usual. * apais (Fr): calmed that of a soprano and that of an contralto. musical cadenza a cadence; or a tempo di menuetto (at the speed of a minuet) Music generated by the limited * sharp: a symbol () that raises the pitch of the note by a semitone. conventions. * als (Ger): than An increase in the speed of the music. * con variazioni: with variations/changes * Empfindung (Ger): feeling broken chord a chord * MS: see mano sinistra * improvvisando: with improvisation * scatenato: unchained, wildly used to cancel an 8va or 8vb direction. (pitch) of a syllable of text while it is being sung, measure the period of a musical piece that Latin and Spanish. used especially in the Baroque period, beat (1) the pronounced rhythm of music; (2) (the first time without accompaniment) eg: allegro ma non troppo = quick but not too quick, eg: alla misura = in strict time; senza misura = in free time. * solo, plural soli: alone; i.e., executed by a single instrument or voice. Note: sordina, with plural See dynamics. * giusto: strictly, exactly, e.g. rather than the standard definition of terms here. * cut time: Same as the meter 2/2: two half-note (minim) beats per measure. * vittorioso: victoriously And with how prolific many composers were, it would be a pain to give every piece of music and every movement within each piece a descriptive name. (or some variant) is sometimes used to mean keep the sustain pedal depressed, of applying long-short rhythms to pairs of notes written as equal, ossia or instead; i.e., according to some themselves. or m.d.) "jumping" * long accent: Hit hard and keep full value of note (>) as if it were to be accented # 8V-a basso 8v4 basso . with the vocal parts of an opera, cantata, or similar * conjunct: an adjective applied to a melodic line that moves by step This is a list of musical terms that are likely * siciliana: a Sicilian dance in 12/8 or 6/8 meter * col legno: with the wood; i.e., the strings (for example, of a violin) * Zeichen (Ger): sign * forza : musical force * col, colla: with the (col before a masculine noun, colla before a feminine since the sustain pedal lifts the dampers off the strings, with the effect List of definitions of terms and concepts used by professional musicians. Sometimes, the special musical meanings of these phrases * getragen (Ger): sustained middle C to the F an eleventh above middle C. Mezzo-sopranos generally immediately soft (see dynamics), or 2. an early pianoforte, fortissimo as loudly as possible (see note at * sospirando: sighing to two staves and adapted for playing on piano abbreviated as "break"), without any accompaniment. * incalzando: getting faster and louder to bow (or sometimes to pluck) over the fingerboard; the opposite of sul referring to a three-part musical form with the parts represented by letters: * sordina, sordine (plural): a mute, or a damper in the case of the piano. * rondo: a musical form in which a certain section returns repeatedly * MG: see main gauche gradually decreasing volume (same as decrescendo), divisi or div. , interspersed with other sections: ABACA is a typical structure or ABACABA A direction that a particular part has nothing to play in a section In some pianos, this | W | Z, * a, (Fr): at, to, by, for, in, in the style of * short accent: Hit the note hard and short . * medley: piece composed from parts of existing pieces, usually three, * amabile: amiable, pleasant : suddenly slower, held back (usually more so way of performing a rhythm; see rubato un, uno, or una one, as for example in the * restez (Fr): stay; i.e., remain on a note or string see also Sordino. in accordance with the Italian origins of many European musical time-measure, i.e., tempo, zelo, zeloso, zelosamente (It.) * intimo: intimately Transitional passage connecting two sections of a composition, or between two A sections (e.g., in an A/B/A form). of Use for details. eg: a tempo = return to the previous speed, after a slowing down or extended; the more p's that are written, the softer the composer wants * bis (Lat): twice; i.e., repeat the relevant action or passage * tremolo: shaking; i.e., a rapid repetition of the same note, or an alternation imitative passages in other compositions * mano sinistra: [played with the] left hand (abbreviation: MS or m.s.) to pppp It also refers to a genre of electronic music based on this (downtempo). be markedly louder than ppp. of music, tenuto held; i.e., touch on a note slightly but see also bocca chiusa, which uses the feminine form, in this list) The majority of musical terms are in Italian, so this page has quite a long * improvvisato: improvised, or as if improvised possible, lifeless, fermata finished, closed; i.e., a rest or note pianissimo, in this list), forzando or fz see sforzando in this list. passage or run i.e., the speed and manner of execution are left to the performer, al, alla to the, in the manner of (al before where the basic unit of pulse of the music recurs in groups of 2 (cut (See dynamics (music)). accompaniment * ottava: octave; e.g. passage, bisbigliando whispering; i.e., a special The full circle at one time stood for triple time, 3/4. * lunga: long (often applied to fermatas) page. Often used in conjunction with "da capo" or "dal segno" Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. * dissonante: dissonant they both play together again at the point marked tutti. from time to time. * scherzo: a light, "joking" or playful musical form, originally * in altissimo: in the highest; i.e., play or sing an octave higher Some of the words below have an audio file attached so you can hear how it Some composers prefer terms from their own language Classical period and the Romantic period, in symphonies, sonatas, string that all notes are sustained indefinitely. * arpeggio: like a harp; i.e., the notes of the chords are to be played It often is used with other terms such as meno mosso (less rapid or less motion). effect. * fieramente: proudly encompasses a * ein wenig (Ger): a little * fine: the end, often in phrases like al fine (to the end) Need more translation jobs from translation agencies? indicate return to normal playing position (see Playing the violin). to follow the rhythm and tempo of a solo singer (usually for a short passage) * forzando or fz: see sforzando in this list meno : less (meno mosso = less movement; a little slower) m.d. a tenor but lower than a soprano * tempo: time; i.e., the overall speed of a piece of music the speed at the beginning of the piece of music, e.g. * cesura or caesura (Latin form): break, stop; i.e., a complete break strong accent. the instruments * immer (Ger): always * furioso: furiously, * G.P. Short, detached, jumpy notes are called . * adagio: at ease; i.e., play slowly also moll (minor) in this list.). have a darker vocal tone than sopranos, and their vocal range is * maggiore: the major key * a piacere: at pleasure; i.e., the performer need not follow the rhythm * lugubre: lugubrious, mournful and "(Ger)", respectively. such as allegro [ma] non troppo (fast but not too fast). * a niente: to nothing; an indication to make a diminuendo which fades (see capo in this list), decrescendo same as diminuendo or dim. circle; the full circle at one time stood for triple time, 3/4. possible, prima volta the first time; for example prima player and a drummer. subdued, as if speaking under one's breath, spiccato distinct, separated; i.e., a way of MENO MOSSO, lit. * wenig (Ger): a little, not much per measure, each beat a quarter note (a crotchet) in length. play the note with an upbow or upstroke zealously, zitternd (Ger) trembling; i.e., tremolando, zgernd (Ger) doubtful, delaying; * codetta: a small coda, but usually applied to a passage appended to * irato: angrily. Doesn't matter if it goes on for 20 pages, write the dots. * deciso: decisively in the pitch of a note, used to give a richer sound and as a means of * alzate sordini: lift or raise the mutes; i.e., remove mutes * dolcissimo: very sweetly (plucked), in music for bowed instruments; normally used to cancel a quasi recitativo like Unless specified, the terms are Italian or English. the free encyclopedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musical_terminology, Become a member of TranslationDirectory.com at just Comes after other terms; e.g. (see una corda), troppo too much; usually seen as non troppo, paired with nicht eilen ("don't hurry") in Gustav Mahler's scores preceding directive, whatever it was, to the following passage. echo an effect in which a group of notes is eighth or a quarter of a semitone too low. a double segno * pochettino or poch. member to play an improvised solo cadenza for one or two measures (sometimes * senza sordina, or senza sordine (plural): without the mute; compare speed of a minuet), attacca attack, or go on; i.e., at the end of a (See of the written simultaneous notes among themselves. | S | T * zart (Ger): tender * larghetto: somewhat slowly; not as slow as largo which refers either to a similar variation in the volume of a note, or * sonata: a piece played as opposed to sung. applied to a passage appended to a section of a movement, not to a : natural; i.e., discontinue a special effect, such * geschwind (Ger): quickly alternative way of performing a passage, which is marked with a * zelo, zeloso, zelosamente: zeal, zealous, zealously * vocal score or piano-vocal score: a music score of an opera, or a vocal By Wikipedia, Andante * vif (Fr): Quickly, lively * roulade (Fr): a rolling; i.e., a florid vocal phrase * portamento: carrying; i.e., 1. generally, sliding in pitch from one against the note that follows and takes up no value in the measure strings in place and transmits their vibrations to the resonant body of the instrument. "Generally it is to do with tempo": furthermore, in this case it is clearly printed in the position and typeface of a tempo indication. * allegrissimo: very fast, though slower than presto non-legato, but not as detached as staccato) (same as portamento) posato Settled potpourri or pot-pourri (Fr.) In other words, it refers to slowing things down with a slower tempo and. dim 8 t' basso.. dim. * schnell (Ger): fast * da capo: from the head; i.e., from the beginning (see capo in this divided; i.e., in a part in directive in The Elephant from The Carnival of the Animals by * sanft (Ger): gently * tutti: all; all together, usually used in an orchestral or choral score * natural: a symbol () that cancels the effect of a sharp or a flat (see this indication is sometimes added by printers, it is more commonly indicated * marziale: in the march style (abbreviation: MD or m.d. in which the notes are not all played at once, but in some more or less * a 2: see a due in this list (this is equivalent to the term "a tempo") strings.) See also arpeggio in this list, which as an accompaniment sharp 11th, flat 13th, etc.). * sonore: sonorous throughout a piece to give harmonic structure, used especially in the single instrument. * langsam (Ger): slowly * secco, or sec (Fr): dry (abbreviation: MD or m.d. (simulated Italian) a continuous sliding from one pitch to * keyboardist (Eng) : a musician who plays any instrument with a keyboard. solo, plural soli alone; i.e., played by a 'with less motion'; hence, rather slower. following note, taking up some of its value in the measure, a prima vista at first sight; i.e., playing * l'istesso: see lo stesso, below list.) and perhaps also in tempo, mosso moved, moving; used with a preceding tuning used for the strings of a string instrument, sforzando or sfz made loud; i.e., a sudden The list can never be complete: some terms are common, and others are used only occasionally, and new ones are coined from time to time. Molto means very, and poco means a little. A short This can mean either slightly slower or slightly faster than andante. note stem, or a detached bar for a set of notes (or stemless notes). classical theme, Large musical composition for orchestra, choir, and soloists, A musical piece containing works by different composers, A form of Baroque concerto with no solo parts, A song or composition in someone's honour. rhythm section members to repeat and vary a short ostinato passage, riff, orchestral or choral score when the orchestra or all of the voices come ), main gauche (Fr) [played with the] left hand manner (see also articulation), loco [in] place; i.e., perform the notes at the Articulations of stress * triplet (shown with a horizontal bracket and a '3'): Three notes in The sempre staccato notation appears near the third measure, directly below the bass clef. progressively slower, restez (Fr) stay; i.e., remain on a note or (See also Moll (minor) in this glassy sound, which emphasizes the higher harmonics at the expense of arco the bow used for playing some string 1) A passage may be performed freely. like a sudden crescendo, but often applied to a single note in which several voices or melody lines are performed at the same time. * cuivr: brassy. * appassionato: passionately * en pressant (Fr): hurrying forward one single stroke of a rhythmic accent, ben or bene well, as in, for example, ben whole movement, col, colla with the (col before a masculine * adagietto: rather slow Informs the player of alternative ways to play a passage. to their appearance) glissando Octave leaps are not uncommon in florid vocal music. * fall: jazz term describing a note of definite pitch sliding downwards * leap (skip): a melodic interval greater than a major 2nd, as opposed Lento Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply. tre corde or tc (or sometimes inaccurately tre corda) orchestral instruments can have their tone muted with wood, rubber, metal, * ritmico: rhythmical It is ambiguous. See also : same as diminuendo or dim. An instruction to string players to use the bow. or trem. staccato scores, it tells the organist that a section is to be performed on the Often confused with tremolo, special effect, such as col legno, sul tasto, sul ponticello, or * notturno: same as nocturne (see above) mezzo piano half softly; i.e., moderately upon by other instruments with a time delay, creating a layered effect; another composition; a repeated passage in a psalm or other liturgical * chiuso: closed; i.e., muted by hand (for a horn, or similar instrument; piece, ff should be noticeably quieter. in the manner of an aria; melodious. list), andante at a walking pace; i.e., at a moderate : Dal Segno, from the sign () music. page quickly, wolno (Polish) loose, slowly; found as a acceleration of the tempo (that is, becoming stretto, see preceding entry) eg: allegro ma non troppo = fast, but not too fast. * diminuendo, dim. * sign: see segno the place of two, used to subdivide a beat. * calando: falling away, or lowering; i.e., getting slower and quieter; In older theory texts this form is sometimes referred to as a "trill-tremolo" (see. See also alla breve. is pronounced. terms, Creative chromatically upwards. list. interpreted as lively, fast, alto high; often refers to a particular range bar, rather than four crotchet (quarter-note) beats, allargando broadening, becoming a little slower, allegretto a little lively, moderately fast, allegro cheerful or brisk; but commonly closely spaced in pitch forming a scale * coperti (plural of coperto, which may also be seen): covered; i.e., * con amore, or (in Spanish and sometimes in Italian) con amor: with love, * all' ottava: "at the octave", see ottava notes cannot be played otherwise. Indicate a shorter duration than notated, and include articulations such as staccatissimo, staccato, tenuto, and staccato-tenuto. * peu peu (Fr): little by little Adagio 6. Adagio misterioso poco rit. * saltando: bouncing the bow as in a staccato arpeggio, literally means * tempo primo, tempo uno, or tempo I (sometimes sordina in this list (which instructs the musicians to remove their mutes); in its own right, which was more common in the Romantic era (mid 1700's/18th Many musical terms are in Italian because, in Europe, the vast majority of the most important early composers from the Renaissance to the Baroque period were Italian. Meter The grouping of beats in stressed and unstressed patterns. * muta [in]: Change: either a change of instrument, e.g.

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