Terms

portato

(Italian, past participle of portare, "to carry") in music denotes a smooth, pulsing articulation and is often notated by adding dots under slur markings. One type of portato notation, also used for staccato and flying spiccato.

Allegro

1. A fast tempo marking between allegretto and vivace.

Andante

1. A moderate tempo marking between largo and moderato. This tempo typically has between 76 and 108 beats per minute. 2. A movement written in a moderately slow tempo, frequently the second movement of a larger composition.

sempre rall.

1. always dying away

Divisi (div.)

A directive in ensemble music that instructs one section of instruments to divide into two or more separate sections, each performing a separate part. Often these separate parts are written on the same staff.

Forte (f)

A directive in music to perform the indicated passage loudly. Forte is typically notated by the letter "f".

Pizzicato (pizz.)

A directive to a bowed string instrument performer that the indicated notes are to be plucked with the fingers rather than bowed

pianissimo (pp)

A directive to a musician to perform a certain passage very softly, even softer than piano (p ), but not as soft as pianississimo (ppp). The abbreviation for Pianissimo is pp.

Espressivo

A directive to a musician to perform a certain passage with expression.

Animato

A directive to a musician to perform a selected passage of a composition in an animated or spirited manner.

Piano (p)

A directive to a musician to preform a certain passage soft, softer than Mezzo Piano (mp), but not as soft as pianissimo (p). the abbreviation for piano is p.

crescendo

A directive to a performer to smoothly A directive to a performer to smoothly increase the volume of a particular phrase or passage. This can be designated with the word crescendo at the beginning of the passage or with the crescendo symbol consisting of two horizontal lines that start together at a point at the left and spread apart to the left. There is typically a dynamic mark at either end of the symbol indicating the desired volume before and after the crescendo

Diminuendo (Dim.)

A directive to a performer to smoothly decrease the volume of the specific passage of a composition. This term is functionally the same as decrescendo and its abbreviation decrees.

decrescendo

A directive to a performer to smoothly decrease the volume of the specific passage. This can be designated with the word decrescendo at the beginning of the passage or with the decrescendo symbol consisting of two horizontal lines that start apart at the left and come together to a point at the right. There is typically a dynamic mark at either end of the symbol indicating the desired volume before and after the decrescendo. This is often seen in its abbreviated form decresc.

Vivace

A directive to perform a certain passage of a composition in a lively or brisk manner.

Ritardando (Rit.)

A directive to perform a certain passage of a composition with a ritard the tempo, to gradually delay the tempo.

tutti

A directive to perform a certain passage of a composition with all instruments together. The opposite of solo.

Moderato

A directive to perform the designated passage of a composition in a moderate tempo; moderately, restrained.

Simile (sim.)

A directive to perform the indicated passage of a composition in a similar manner as the previous passage; similarly. One common use is to designate the continuation of the use of an articulation without repeating the articulation symbol

Maestoso

A directive to perform the indicated passage of a composition in a stately, dignified, majestic fashion.

Fortissimo (ff)

A directive to perform the indicated passage very loudly symbolized by "ff". Louder than forte "f".

fortississimo (fff)

A directive to perform the indicated passage very loudly symbolized by "fff". Louder than fortissimo "ff".

Mezzo Forte (mf)

A dynamic mark meaning moderately loud. Not quite so loud as forte. It is abbreviated mf.

Mezzo Piano (mp)

A dynamic mark meaning moderately soft. Not quite as soft as piano. It is abbreviated mp.

fortepiano (fp)

A dynamic marking (usually abbreviated as fp) directing the performer to attack the written note at the dynamic level of forte (loud) followed by an immediate decrease in volume to piano (soft). This is almost always performed with an accent on the initial attack.

dal segno (D.S.)

A mark in a composition which informs the performer to repeat a specific section of the composition marked by a dal segno sign

Allegretto

A rather fast tempo marking between allegro and moderato.

Largo

A slow and solemn tempo marking, having between 40 and 60 beats per minute.

A tempo

An directive to return to the original tempo after a deliberate deviation. More about Tempo Terminology.

Ad Librium (ad lib.)

At the discretion of the performer; At pleasure, changing the tempo of a particular passage. A part that may be omitted if desired. It is often used in the shortened form, ad lib.

arco

Directive for a musician to play a stringed instrument with a bow as opposed to plucked 2. The Italian term for bow

accelerando (accel.)

Gradually accelerating or getting faster

Unis.

In music, unison is two or more musical parts sounding the same pitch or at an octave interval, usually at the same time.

Meno mosso

Less motion or with a slower tempo. This term is often qualified by poco (poco meno mosso) or a little less motion.

poco a poco cresc.

Little by little get louder; very gradually get louder

Marcato (marc.)

Marked, accented, emphatic, stressed.

Allegro non molto

Not very quick.

Medium swing

Quarter note gets the beat of 120-168

cantabile

Singing or performing in a melodious and graceful style, full of expression.

Legato e espress.

Slow and very emotional

rit. e poco dim.

Slowing down the tempo while very gradually getting quieter

Subito (Sub.)

Suddenly; at once; immediately.

Driving rock

Tempo of quarter note gets the beat or 120. Used in Rest Ye Merry, Rock Ye Very

coda

The closing few measures of a composition, usually not a part of the main theme groups of the standard form of a composition, but a finishing theme added to the end to give the composition closure; in sonata form, the coda is anything that occurs after the recapitulation.

triplets

Three notes of equal length that are to be performed in the duration of two notes of equal length.

poco a poco rall.

Very gradually slow the tempo down

Legato e molto espressivo

Very smooth and connected with expression and passion

moderately

kept or keeping within reasonable or proper limits; not extreme, excessive, or intense

Dolce cantabile

sweet and songlike Singing or performing in a graceful style, full of expression