Jeremy Chang

MUSICAL
TERMINOLOGY
Tempos
 Grave - Very Slow
 Largo, Lento - Slow
 Larghetto - A little faster than Largo
 Adagio - Moderately Slow
 Andante - "Walking" Tempo
 Andantino - A little faster than Andante
 Allegretto - A little slower than Allegro
 Allegro - Fast
 Vivace - Lively
 Presto - Very Fast
 Prestissimo - Very Very Fast
 Moderato - Moderate(ly)
 Molto - Very
 Accel., Accelerando - Gradually becoming faster
 Rit., Ritardando - Gradually becoming slower
Dynamics
 pp – pianissimo – very soft
 p – piano – soft
 mp – mezzo-piano – moderately soft
 mf – mezzo-forte – moderately loud
 f – forte - loud
 ff – fortissimo – very loud
 Crescendo – gradually get louder
 Decrescendo/diminuendo - gradually get softer
 sfz – sforzando – suddenly loud
 fp – forte piano – loud then suddenly soft
 poco a poco …. – slowly ……….
Style
 Accent – emphasized note
 Marcato – stressed, pronounced note
 Tenuto – hold to full note value
 Staccato – short and detached
 Detache – light and detached
 Con brio – with vigor
 Con fuoco – with fire
 Dolce – sweet
 Expressivo – expressive
 Con moto – with motion
 A tempo – return to original tempo
 Legato – smooth
 Pizzicato – plucked
 Tremolo – short, rapidly repeated strokes (on one note)
 Glissando – sliding from one pitch to the next
Other Terms
 D.C. al fine – go to the end
 Bis – repeat
 Cadenza – extended solo section
 Coda – closing section of a movement
 Da Capo – from the beginning
 Dampfer – mute
 Tacet – silent
 Simile – continue in the same manner