larghissimo
very slow and broad
adagissimo
slower than adagio
lentissimo
very slow
largo
broad, large
adagio
at ease
len to
slow
larghetto
a little faster than largo
adagietto
a little faster than adagio
andante
moderately slow, easily moving
andantino
literally “less slowly” than andante
moderato
moderately
allegro
cheerful
allegretto
a little slower than allegro
con moto
with motion
vivo
lively
vivace
vivacious
presto
quick, fast
prestissimo
superlative of presto
accelerando (accel.)
gradually faster
stringendo (string.)
hastening
poco a poco animato
growing animated little by little
piu allegro
more lively
piu presto
more rapid
piu mosso
more movement
piu animato
more animated
ritardando (ritard.)
growing slower and slower
rallentando ( ra ll.)
gradual slackening of pace
piu lento
more slowly
meno mosso
less movement
ritenuto (rit.)
held back, slower, retard
largando
becoming broader with more power
allargarido
same
morendo
gradually dying away with slower tempo
calando (cal.)
decreasing in pace and power
incalzando
becoming more rapid and vehement
a tempo
back to original speed
tempo rubato
elasticity of tempo
ad libitum (ad lib)
at pleasure
tempo giusto
in strict rhythm
alla marcia
in march tempo
tenuto (ten.)
hold the tone its full value or even a little longer
tempo prima (tem. I)
at the original tempo
piano (p)
softly
pianissimo (pp)
more softly, superlative of piano
piano assai
very softly
mezzo piano (mp)
moderately soft
forte (f)
loudly
fortissimo (ff)
most loudly, superlative of forte
mezzo fort (mf)
moderately loud
piu forte
more loudly
forte-piano(fp)
loudly followed immediately by softly
sforzando (sfz)
accent the single note or chord
reinforzando (reinf.)
reinforced throughout the phrase or passage
crescendo (cresc.)
gradually louder
decrescendo ( decresc.)
gradually softer
diminuendo (dim.)
becoming softer
crescendo poco a poco
growing louder little by little
crescendo subito
immediately becoming louder
crescendo molto
becoming much louder
crescendo al fortissimo
growing louder until very loud
crescendo e diminuendo
gradually louder then softer
diminuendo al pianissimo
growing softer until very soft
a capriccio
capriciously
agitato
agitated
alia zingara
in gypsy style
cantabile
in singing style
con amore
with tenderness
con bravura
with boldness
con espressione (con espr.)
with expression
espressimo
same
con brio
with brilliancy
con fuoco
with fire
con passione
passionately
con grazia
with grace
dolce
gently, sweetly
giocoso
humorously
giojoso
joyous
gracioso
gracefully
maestoso
with majesty and grandeur
pastorale
in simple or country style
pesante
heavily
pompose
pompously
scherzando
jestipgly
sostenuto
sustained
sotto voce
with subdued voice
tranquillo
peacefully
legato (leg.)
smooth, connected
leggiero
lightly
marcato il canto
emphasize the melody
non troppo
not too much
cadenza (cad.)
solo passage in free style
da capo (D.C.)
from the beginning
del segno (D.S.)
repeat from the sign
divisi (div.)
divided
staccato ( stacc.)
short, detached
obbligato (obb.)
an accessory but necessary melody
opus (op.)
a work
pizzicato (pizz.)
plucked strings
sempre
always
tutti
all together