accelerando (accel)
gradually faster
adagio
somewhat slow
agitato
agitated; rapid
al fine
to the finish “da capo al fine
alla
in the style of “alla marcia”
allargando (allarg)
gradually slower and broader
allegretto
light and moderately quick, but not as fast as allegro
allegro
rapid; lively
andante
moderately slow; a walking pace
animato
spirited; animated
a tempo
in tempo; usually referring to a return to the original rate if speed
calando
gradually slower and softer
cantabile
in a singing style
coda
an ending added to a piece; “tail”
con
with (con anima – with spirit)
da capo
from the beginning (head)
dal segno
from the sign
diminuendo (dim)
gradually softer
dolce
sweetly
forte
loud
fortissimo (ff)
very loud
giocoso
joyfully
grave
extremely slow and solemn
largo
extremely slow
legato (leg)
smooth and connected
leggiero
lightly
lento
very slow
l’istesso
the same (l’istesso tempo – the same speed)
maestoso
majestically
marcato
marked accent; with emphasis
marcia
usually alla marcia – march style
marziale
martial; stately
mezzo
medium or middle
molto
very (milto allegro – very fast)
morendo
dying away (same as smorzando)
non troppo
not too much (allegro non troppo – not too fast)
opus
a musical work or composition, listed in chronological order
pesante
heavily; with heavy emphasis
pianissimo
very softly
piano
softly
poco
a little (cresc. poco a poco – louder little by little; poco rit. – little slower)
prestissimo
extremely fast – faster than presto
presto
very fast
primo
first (tempo primo – original tempo)
rallentando (rall.)
gradually slower
ritardando (rit)
gradually slower
ritenuto
a steady pace, but slower than the preceding tempo
rubato
speeding and slowing of tempo within a phrase for expressive purposes; literally means “robbed,” suggesting the robbing from the length of some notes to add on to the length of others
senza
without (senza vibrato – without vibrato)
scherzoso
in a playful, jesting manner
sforzando (sfz)
a quick heavy accent at the beginning of a sustained note
simile
the same; continue in like manner
smorzando
dying away (same as morendo)
soli
a melodic passage for more than one performer
solo
a melodic passage for one performer
sordino
a mute (con sordino – with mute; senza sordino – without mute)
staccato
short and detached articulation of a note
tempo
time; s[eed of musical beats
tenuto
lengthening or sustaining of a note
vivace
lively; vivacious
Tempos from slowest to fastest
Largo (grave), Lento, Adagio, Andante, Allegretto, Allegro, Presto, Prestissimo