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Tie
a2 (a due)
together/two instruments
a cappella
singing without instrumental accompaniment
accelerando/accel
accelerating; gradually increasing the tempo
adagio
‘at ease’ – play slowly
ad libitum (commonly written: ad lib)
at liberty; i.e., the speed and manner of execution are left to the performer (improvised
)
agitato
agitated
allargando
broadening, becoming a little slower each time
allegretto
a little lively, moderately fast
allegro
lively (fast)
andante
at a walking pace; i.e., at a moderate tempo
appassionato
passionately
arco
with the bow (string instruments)
a tempo
return to original tempo (after a rit, rall, accel etc).
cantabile
in a singing style
coda
‘tail’ – concluding part of a piece
colla voce
with the voice
con legno
with the wood – using the wood part of the bow on a string instrument
con sordino
with mute (con = with), (sordino = mute)
decresendo (decresc.) or dim (diminuendo)
gradually getting softer
divisi
divided; i.e., in a part in which several musicians normally play exactly the same notes they are instead to split the playing of the written simultaneous notes among themselves.
dolce
sweetly
espressivo or espr.
expressively
falsetto
high vocal register
glissando/gliss.
smooth slide between notes
grazioso
gracefully
grave
slowly and seriously
Homophony (homophonic)
A musical texture with one voice (or melody line) accompanied by chords. Ie melody + accompaniment
lamentoso
lamenting, mournfully
largo
broadly; i.e., slowly
legato
smoothly joined
lent
slowly
melisma
singing one syllable over several notes/pitches.
meno
less
meno mosso
less movement (slower)
mosso
movement
piu mosso
more movement (faster)
misterioso
mysteriously
monophony (monophonic)
musical texture – melody/one line only no chords or accompaniment
pesante
heavy, ponderous
poco a poco
little by little
presto
very quickly
rallentando or rall.
broadening of tempo (slowing)
ritardando, ritard., rit.
slowing down; decelerating.
ritenuto, riten.
suddenly slower, held back
scherzo
playfully (a musical joke)
sempre
always
senza
without
sostenuto
sustained, lengthened
subito
suddenly
tacet
silent. do not play
tempo
speed
tranquillo
calmly, peacefully
polyphony (polyphonic)
musical texture: several different melodies or lines, all occuring at once and are of equal importance.
vibrato
wavering of pitch/dynamics to colour sound (used with strings, woodwinds, voice etc)
vivo
lively
vivace
very lively, up tempo