a capriccio
capriciously
a tempo
back to original speed
accelerando (accel.)
gradually faster
ad libitum (ad lib)
at pleasure
adagietto
a little faster than adagio
adagio
at ease
adagissimo
slower than adagio
adantino
literally “less slowly” than andante
agitato
agitated
alla marcia
in march tempo
alla zingara
in gypsy style
allargando
same
allegretto
a little slower than allegro
allegro
cheerful
andante
moderatly slow, easily moving
cadenza (cad.)
solo passage in free style
calando (cal.)
decreasing in pace and power
cantabile
in singing style
con amore
with tenderness
con bravura
with boldness
con brio
with brilliancy
con espressione (con espr.)
with expression
con fuoco
with fire
con grazia
with grace
con moto
with motion
con passione
passionately
consordino
with the mute
crescendo (cres.)
gradually louder
crescendo al fortissimo
growing louder until very loud
crescendo e diminuendo
gradually louder then softer
crescendo molto
becoming much louder
crescendo poco a poco
growing louder little by little
crescendo subito
immediately becoming louder
crescendo subito
immediately becoming louder
da capo (D.C.)
from the beginning
decresendo (decresc.)
gradually softer
del segno (D.S.)
repeat from the sign
diminuendo
becoming softer
diminuendo al pianissimo
growing softer until very soft
divisi (div.)
divided
dolce
gently, sweetly
espressimo
same
forte (f)
loudly
forte piano (fp)
loudly followed immediately by softly
fortissimo (ff)
most loudly, superlative of forte
giocoso
humorously
giojoso
joyous
gracioso
gracefully
incalzando
becoming more rapid and vehement
largando
becoming broader with more power
larghetto
A little faster than largo
larghissimo
very slow and broad
largo
broad, large
legato (leg.)
smooth, connected
leggiero
lightly
lentissimo
very slow
lento
slow
maestoso
with majesty and grandeur
marcato il canto
emphasize the melody
meno mosso
less movement
mezzo forte (mf)
moderately loud
mezzo piano (mp)
moderately soft
moderato
moderately
morendo
gradually dying away with slower tempo
non troppo
not too much
obbligato (obb.)
an accessory but necessary melody
opus (op.)
a work
pastorale
in simple or country style
peasante
heavily
pianissimo (pp)
very softly
piano (p)
softly
piano assai
very softly
piu allegro
more lively
piu animato
more animated
piu forte
more loudly
piu lento
more slowly
piu mosso
more movement
piu piano
more softly
piu presto
more rapid
pizzizato (pizz.)
plucked strings
poco a poco animato
growing animated little by little
pompose
pompously
prestissimo
superlative of presto
presto
quick, fast
rallentando (rall.)
gradual slacking of pace
reinforzando (reinf.)
reinforced throughout the phrase or passage
ritardando (ritard.)
growing slower and slower
ritenuto (rit.)
held back, slower, retard
scherzando
jestingly
sempre
always
senza
without the mute
sforzando (sfz)
accent every single note or chord
sostenuto
sustained
sotto voce
with subdued voice
staccato (stacc.)
short, detached
stringendo (string.)
hastening
tempo gusto
in strict rhythm
tempo primo (tem. I)
at the original tempo
tempo rubato
elasticity of tempo
tenuto (ten.)
hold the tone its full value or even a little longer
tranquillo
peacefully
tutti
all together
vivace
vivacious
vivo
lively