Dynamics
The loudness or softness of a musical passage.
Forte
Loud
F
Mezzo Forte
Medium loud
mf
Fortissimo
Very loud
ff
Piano
Soft
P
Mezzo piano
Medium soft
mp
Pianissimo
Very soft
Crescendo
To gradually become louder.
Decrescendo
To gradually become softer.
Tempo
The speed or how fast the music moves.
Ritardando
To gradually slow down.
Accelerando
To gradually increase speed up or become faster.
Largo
Very slow
Grave
Very slow in song.
Moderato
Moderate tempo.
Andante
Walking tempo.
Allegro
Fast and lively
Allegretto
A temping marking.
Vivace
A sudden change in a tempo.
Staff
5 lines and 4 spaces. Divided into measures by bar lines.
Measure
The amount of beats within a pair of barlines.
Barline
Divides the staff into measures
Double bar line
Indicates the end of a piece of music.
Time Signature
Tells you how many beats in a measure
Carmen
One of the most successful operas of all time.
Opera Comique
An opera where part of it is sung and part of it is spoken.
Micaela
She takes care of Don Jose’s mother.
Seguidilla
An aria that Carmen sings.
Opera
Form of storytelling created in the 1600’s.
Singing and Theatre
Combined to form an opera.
The text of the opera
Libretto
Escamillo
Famous matador (bullfighter)
Flower Song
Song sung by Don Jose to Carmen.
Frasquita
Friend of Carmen’s.
Mercedes
Another friend of Carmen’s.
Don Jose
A guy who loves Carmen.
A Tempo
Return to the original tempo.