a poco
a little; gradually
a tempo
in time; generally implies a return to the origional rate of speed
accelerando
(accel.) gradually faster
adagietto
slow, but not as slow as adiagio
adagio
very slow
agitato
agitated; rapid
al fine
to the finish
alla
in the style of (such as alla marcia-in the style of a march)
allargando
(allarg.) gradually slower and broader
allegretto
light and moderately quick, but not as fast as allegro
allegro
rapid; lively
andante
(andte) moderately slow, but moving
andantino
generally a little quicker than andante
animato
spirited
appassionato
intensely; passionately; with deep feeling
brilliante
brilliantly
cantabile
in a singing style
chromatic
by semi-tones
coda
to final added measures of a musical composition usually marked with a coda
con anima
with animation; spirited
con brio
with spirit; brilliantly
con forza
with force
con grazia
with graceful style
con spirito
with spirit, brilliance
crescendo
(cresc.) gradually louder
da capo
(D.C) from the beginning
dal segno
(D.S.) from the sign
decrescendo
(decres.) gradually softer
diminuendo
(dim.) gradually softer
dolce
sweetly
grazioso
gracefully
l’istesso
the same (such as l’istesso temop-the same speed)
larghetto
slow, but not as slow as largo
largo
very slow
legato
smooth and connected
lento
very slow
maestoso
majestically
marcato
marked; with emphasis
marziale
martial
meno
less (such as meno mosso-less movement, slower)
mezzo
medium; half (such as mezzo-forte-medium loud; mezzo-piano- medium soft)
moderato
moderately
molto
very
mosso
motion; movement
non troppo
not too much
pianissimo
(pp) very softly
piano
(p) softly
poco
a little (such as poco animato – a little more animation; poco meno- a little less)
poco a poco
little by little
prestissimo
very fast; more so than presto
presto
very fast
rallentando
(rall.) gradually slower
ritardando
(rit.) gradually slower
ritenuto
a steady pace, but slower than preceding tempo; a temporary irregularity of time, lengthening certain notes at the expense of others.
segno
the sign
sempre
always; continaully
sforzando
(sfz) forced; with emphasis
simile
the same; continue in same manner
soli
more than one performer in unison
energico
energetically
etude
a study
fermata
a hold or pause
forte
(f) loud
fortissimo
(ff) very loud
furioso
furiously
grandioso
grand or noble style
grave
very slow and solemn
solo
a composition or passage for one performer
sostenuto
sustained
staccato
separated, detached style
subito
suddenly
tacet
silent
tempo
time; speed
tenuto
(ten) sustain full value
vivace
vivacious; lively