ad libitum (ad lib.)
freely; not in strict time
affettuoso
with feeling and emotion
alla breve (c)
cut time; two beats to the measure; one beat to each half note
a piacere
at pleasure; equivalent of ad libitum
appoggiatura
a grace note which takes the accent and part of the time value of the following principal note; often called long grace note
assai
very
bassa
low. 8va bassa means play the notes an octave lower than written
calando
gradually softer and slower
dal segno (D.S.)
from the sign @
enharmonic
alike in pitch but different in notation
fermata
a pause or hold
giocoso
humorous
gruppetto
a group of grace notes; a turn
l’istesso tempo
at the same tempo as the previous passage or movement
mordent
an embellishment of two or more notes that make up a very short trill
non tanto
not too much
ossia
otherwise; or else: indicating another way of playing a passage
rubato
robbing or taking from the notes their strict time value by alternately hurrying and retarding for the purpose of expression
stringendo (string.)
pressing; accelerating the tempo
tacet
be silent; do not play