a
to, at, for, by, in
accelerando
gradually faster
adagio
slow
ad libitum (ad lib.)
freely, at will in tempo
affettuoso
with feeling and emotion
agitato
restless, agitated
al fine
to the end
alla
in the style of
alla breve
cut time; 2 beats to measure, 1 beat to each half note
allargando
growing slower, louder
allegretto
faster than moderato but slower than allegro
allegro
quick, lively
amoroso
affectionately, tenderly
andante
moderately slow
andantino
somewhat faster than andante
animato
with spirit
a piacere
same as ad lib.
freely, at will in tempo
appassionato
with emotion and passion
appoggiatura
a grace note (takes the accent and part of time value of the following principal note)
arpeggio
notes of a chord played one after the other
assai
very
a tempo
in the original tempo
attacca
begin next portion without pause
bassa
low (8va bassa means play an octave lower than written)
ben
well
bis
twice, repeat
bravura
boldness
brillante
brilliantly
brio
vigor, spirited
cadenza
an ornamental (usually solo) elaborate passage
cantabile
in a singing style
cappella
vocal
a cappella or alla cappella
vocal without instrument accompaniment
capriccioso
fanciful and capricious
chromatic
proceeding by half steps
coda
a closing passage
con
with
con brio
with vigor
con espressione
with expression
con fuoco
with fire and passion
con moto
with motion
con spirito
with spirit
crescendo (cresc.)
increasing loudness of tone