Music Term Glossary A-F
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Music Term Glossary A-F
The musical term glossary.
A
a, ΰ (Fr) at, to, by, for, in, in the style of
a 2 see a due in this list
aber (Ger) but
a bene placido up to the performer
a cappella in the manner of singing in a chapel; i.e., without instrumental accompaniment
accelerando accelerating; gradually increasing the tempo
accentato accented; with emphasis
acciaccatura crushing; i.e., a very fast grace note that is "crushed" against the note that follows and takes up no value in the measure
accompagnato accompanied; i.e., with the accompaniment following the soloist, who may speed up or slow down at will
adagietto rather slow
adagio at ease; i.e., slow
adagissimo very slow
ad libitum (commonly ad lib; Latin) at liberty; i.e., the speed and manner of execution are left to the performer
a due Intended as a duet; for two voices or instruments; together; two instruments are to play in unison, after divisi or a solo passage for one of the instruments
affettuoso, affettuosamente, or affectueusement (Fr) with affect (that is, with emotion); see also con affetto
affrettando hurrying, pressing onwards
agile swiftly
agitato agitated
al, alla to the, in the manner of (al before masculine nouns, alla before feminine)
alla breve two minim (half-note) beats to a bar, rather than four crotchet (quarter-note) beats
alla marcia in the style of a march
allargando broadening, becoming a little slower
allegretto a little lively, moderately fast
allegro cheerful or brisk; but commonly interpreted as lively, fast
als (Ger) than
altissimo very high
alto high; often refers to a particular range of voice, higher than a tenor but lower than a soprano
am Steg (Ger) at the bridge; i.e., playing a bowed string instrument near its bridge (see sul ponticello in this list)
amabile amiable, pleasant
amoroso loving
andante at a walking pace; i.e., at a moderate tempo
andantino slightly faster than andante (but earlier it sometimes used to mean slightly slower than andante)
a niente to nothing; an indication to make a diminuendo to pppp
animato animated, lively
antiphon a liturgical or other composition consisting of choral responses, sometimes between two choirs; a passage of this nature forming part of another composition
apaisι (Fr) calmed
a piacere at pleasure; i.e., the performer need not follow the rhythm strictly
appassionato passionately
appoggiatura a grace note that "leans" on the following note, taking up some of its value in the measure
a prima vista at first sight; i.e., playing or singing something at first sight of the music sheet
arco the bow used for playing some string instrument; i.e., played with the bow, as opposed to pizzicato (plucked), in music for bowed instruments; normally used to cancel a pizzicato direction
arietta a short aria
arioso airy, or like an air (a melody); i.e., in the manner of an aria; melodious
arpeggio like a harp; i.e., the notes of the chords are to be played quickly one after another (usually ascending) instead of simultaneously. In music for piano, this is sometimes a solution in playing a wide-ranging chord whose notes cannot be played otherwise. Music generated by the limited hardware of video game computers uses a similar technique to create a chord from one tone generator. Arpeggios (or arpeggi) are also accompaniment patterns. See also broken chord in this list.
arpeggiato a way of playing a chord: starting with the lowest note, and with successively higher notes rapidly joining in. Sometimes the effect is reversed, so that the highest note is played first.
assai very
assez (Fr) enough, sufficiently; sometimes used in the same sense as assai
a tempo in time; i.e., the performer should return to the main tempo of the piece (after an accelerando or ritardando, etc.); also may be found in combination with other terms such as a tempo giusto (in strict time) or a tempo di menuetto (at the speed of a minuet)
attacca attack, or go on; i.e., at the end of a movement, a direction to begin (attack) the next movement immediately, without a gap or pause
Ausdruck (Ger) expression
ausdrucksvoll (Ger) expressively
avec (Fr) with or with another
B
B (Ger) B flat in German (and Icelandic); B natural is called H
barbaro barbarous (notably used in Allegro barbaro by Bιla Bartσk)
bass the lowest of the standard four voice ranges (bass, tenor, alto, soprano); the lowest melodic line in a musical composition, often thought of as defining and supporting the harmony
basso continuo continuous bass; i.e., a bass part played continuously throughout a piece to give harmonic structure, used especially in the Baroque period
beat (1) the pronounced rhythm of music; (2) one single stroke of a rhythmic accent
bellicoso warlike, aggressive
ben or bene well, as in, for example, ben marcato (meaning "well-marked")
bewegt (Ger) moved, speeded
bis (Lat) twice; i.e., repeat the relevant action or passage
bisbigliando whispering; i.e., a special tremolo effect on the harp where a chord or note is rapidly repeated at a low volume
bocca chiusa with closed mouth
bravura boldness; as in con bravura, boldly
breit (Ger) broad
bridge Transitional passage connecting two sections of a composition, also transition. Also the part of a string instrument that holds the strings in place.
brillante brilliantly, with sparkle
brio vigour; usually in con brio
brioso vigorously (same as con brio)
broken chord a chord in which the notes are not all played at once, but in some more or less consistent sequence. They may follow singly one after the other, or two notes may be immediately followed by another two, for example. See also arpeggio in this list, which as an accompaniment pattern may be seen as a kind of broken chord; see Alberti bass.
bruscamente brusquely
C
cadenza a solo section, usually in a concerto or similar work, that is used to display the performer's technique, sometimes at considerable length
calando falling away, or lowering; i.e., getting slower and quieter; ritardando along with diminuendo
calore warmth; so con calore, warmly
cambiare to change; i.e., any change, such as to a new instrument
cantabile or cantando in a singing style
capo head; i.e., the beginning (of a movement, normally)
capriccioso capriciously, unpredictable, volatile
cιdez (Fr) yield, give way
cesura or caesura (Latin form) break, stop; i.e., a complete break in sound (sometimes called "railroad tracks")
chiuso closed; i.e., muted by hand (for a horn, or similar instrument; but see also bocca chiusa, which uses the feminine form, in this list)
coda a tail; i.e., a closing section appended to a movement
codetta a small coda, but usually applied to a passage appended to a section of a movement, not to a whole movement
col, colla with the (col before a masculine noun, colla before a feminine noun); (see next for example)
colla parte with the soloist
colla voce with the voice
col legno with the wood; i.e., the strings (for example, of a violin) are to be struck with the wood of the bow; also battuta col legno: beaten with the wood
coloratura coloration; i.e., elaborate ornamentation of a vocal line, or (especially) a soprano voice suited to such elaboration
colossale tremendously
col pugno with the fist; i.e., bang the piano with the fist
come prima like the first (time); i.e., as before, typically referring to an earlier tempo
come sopra as above; i.e., like the previous tempo (usually)
common time the time signature 4/4: four beats per measure, each beat a quarter note (a crotchet) in length. 4/4 is often written on the musical staff as 'C'. The symbol is not a C as an abbreviation for common time, but a broken circle. The full circle at one time stood for triple time, 3/4.
comodo (or, commonly but less correctly, commodo) comfortable; i.e., at moderate speed; also, allegro comodo, tempo comodo, etc.
con with; used in very many musical directions, for example con allegrezza (with liveliness), con amore (with tenderness); (see also col, colla, above)
con amore, or (in Spanish and sometimes in Italian) con amor with love, tenderly
con affetto with affect (that is, with emotion)
con brio with spirit, with vigour
con dolore with sadness
con (gran, molto) espressione with (great, much) expression
con fuoco with fire, in a fiery manner
con larghezza with broadness; broadly
con moto with motion
con slancio with enthusiasm
con sordina, or con sordine (plural) with a mute; or with mutes; compare senza sordina in this list; see also Sordina. Note: sordina, with plural sordine, is strictly correct Italian, but the forms con sordino and con sordini are much more commonly used as terms in music.
con sordino, or con sordini (plural) (incorrect Italian) see con sordina, above
coperti (plural of coperto, which may also be seen) covered; i.e., on a drum, muted with a cloth
crescendo growing; i.e., progressively louder (contrast diminuendo)
cut time same as the meter 2/2: two half-note (minim) beats per measure. Notated and executed like common time (4/4), except with the beat lengths doubled. Indicated by three quarters of a circle with a vertical line through it, which resembles the cent symbol '’'. This comes from a literal cut of the 'C' symbol of common time. Thus, a quarter note in cut time is only half a beat long, and a measure has only two beats. See also alla breve.
D
da capo from the head; i.e., from the beginning (see capo in this list)
D.S. al coda or dal segno al coda (or, strictly but rarely seen, ...alla coda) from the sign to the coda; i.e., return to a place in the music designated by the sign and continue until directed to move to the coda, a separate ending section. (See Coda in this list.)
D.S. al fine or dal segno al fine from the sign to the end; i.e., return to a place in the music designated by the sign (see preceding entry) and continue to the end of the piece
D.S.S. al coda or dal segno al coda same as D.S. al coda, but with a double segno
D.S.S. al fine or dal segno al fine from the double sign to the end; i.e., return to place in the music designated by the double sign (see D.S. al coda) and continue to the end of the piece
deciso decisively
decrescendo or decresc. same as diminuendo or dim. (see below)
delicatamente or delicato delicately
devoto religiously
diminuendo, dim. dwindling; i.e., with gradually decreasing volume (same as decrescendo)
dissonante dissonant
divisi or div. 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. It is most often used for string instruments, since with them another means of execution is often possible. (The return from divisi is marked unisono: see in this list.)
dolce sweetly
dolcissimo very sweetly
dolente sorrowfully, plaintively
doloroso sorrowfully, plaintively
double stop the act of playing two notes simultaneously on a melodic percussion instrument or stringed instrument
D.S. Dal Segno (see above)
Dur (Ger) major; used in key signatures as, for example, A-Dur (A major), B-Dur (B♭ major), or H-Dur (B major). (See also moll (minor) in this list.)
dynamics refers to the relative volumes in the execution of a piece of music
E
eco the Italian word for "echo"; an effect in which a group of notes is repeated, usually more softly, and perhaps at a different octave, to create an echo effect
ein wenig (Ger) a little
Empfindung (Ger) feeling
encore (Fr) again; i.e., perform the relevant passage once more
en dehors (Fr) prominently
energico energetic, strong
enfatico emphatically
en pressant (Fr) hurrying forward
en retenant (Fr) slowing
eroico heroically
espirando expiring; i.e., dying away
espressivo or espr. expressively
estinto extinct, extinguished; i.e., as soft as possible, lifeless
etwas (Ger) somewhat
F
facile easily, without fuss
fermata finished, closed; i.e., a rest or note is to be held for a duration that is at the discretion of the performer or conductor (sometimes called bird's eye)
feroce ferociously
feurig (Ger) fiery
festivamente cheerfully, celebratory
fieramente proudly
fill (English) a sound (or combination of sounds) which "fills" the brief time between lyrical phrases and lines of melody
fine the end, often in phrases like al fine (to the end)
flebile mournfully
focoso or fuocoso fiery; i.e., passionately
forte or f (usually) strong; i.e., to be played or sung loudly
fortepiano or fp (usually) strong-gentle; i.e., 1. loud, then immediately soft (see dynamics), or 2. an early pianoforte
fortissimo as loudly as possible (see note at pianissimo, in this list)
forzando or fz see sforzando in this list
freddo cold(ly); hence depressive, unemotional
fresco freshly
fugue (Fr), fuga (Latin and Italian) literally "flight"; hance a complex and highly regimented contrapuntal form in music. A short theme (the subject) is introduced in one voice (or part) alone, then in others, with imitation and characteristic development as the piece progresses.
fuoco fire; con fuoco means with fire
furioso furiously
A
a, ΰ (Fr) at, to, by, for, in, in the style of
a 2 see a due in this list
aber (Ger) but
a bene placido up to the performer
a cappella in the manner of singing in a chapel; i.e., without instrumental accompaniment
accelerando accelerating; gradually increasing the tempo
accentato accented; with emphasis
acciaccatura crushing; i.e., a very fast grace note that is "crushed" against the note that follows and takes up no value in the measure
accompagnato accompanied; i.e., with the accompaniment following the soloist, who may speed up or slow down at will
adagietto rather slow
adagio at ease; i.e., slow
adagissimo very slow
ad libitum (commonly ad lib; Latin) at liberty; i.e., the speed and manner of execution are left to the performer
a due Intended as a duet; for two voices or instruments; together; two instruments are to play in unison, after divisi or a solo passage for one of the instruments
affettuoso, affettuosamente, or affectueusement (Fr) with affect (that is, with emotion); see also con affetto
affrettando hurrying, pressing onwards
agile swiftly
agitato agitated
al, alla to the, in the manner of (al before masculine nouns, alla before feminine)
alla breve two minim (half-note) beats to a bar, rather than four crotchet (quarter-note) beats
alla marcia in the style of a march
allargando broadening, becoming a little slower
allegretto a little lively, moderately fast
allegro cheerful or brisk; but commonly interpreted as lively, fast
als (Ger) than
altissimo very high
alto high; often refers to a particular range of voice, higher than a tenor but lower than a soprano
am Steg (Ger) at the bridge; i.e., playing a bowed string instrument near its bridge (see sul ponticello in this list)
amabile amiable, pleasant
amoroso loving
andante at a walking pace; i.e., at a moderate tempo
andantino slightly faster than andante (but earlier it sometimes used to mean slightly slower than andante)
a niente to nothing; an indication to make a diminuendo to pppp
animato animated, lively
antiphon a liturgical or other composition consisting of choral responses, sometimes between two choirs; a passage of this nature forming part of another composition
apaisι (Fr) calmed
a piacere at pleasure; i.e., the performer need not follow the rhythm strictly
appassionato passionately
appoggiatura a grace note that "leans" on the following note, taking up some of its value in the measure
a prima vista at first sight; i.e., playing or singing something at first sight of the music sheet
arco the bow used for playing some string instrument; i.e., played with the bow, as opposed to pizzicato (plucked), in music for bowed instruments; normally used to cancel a pizzicato direction
arietta a short aria
arioso airy, or like an air (a melody); i.e., in the manner of an aria; melodious
arpeggio like a harp; i.e., the notes of the chords are to be played quickly one after another (usually ascending) instead of simultaneously. In music for piano, this is sometimes a solution in playing a wide-ranging chord whose notes cannot be played otherwise. Music generated by the limited hardware of video game computers uses a similar technique to create a chord from one tone generator. Arpeggios (or arpeggi) are also accompaniment patterns. See also broken chord in this list.
arpeggiato a way of playing a chord: starting with the lowest note, and with successively higher notes rapidly joining in. Sometimes the effect is reversed, so that the highest note is played first.
assai very
assez (Fr) enough, sufficiently; sometimes used in the same sense as assai
a tempo in time; i.e., the performer should return to the main tempo of the piece (after an accelerando or ritardando, etc.); also may be found in combination with other terms such as a tempo giusto (in strict time) or a tempo di menuetto (at the speed of a minuet)
attacca attack, or go on; i.e., at the end of a movement, a direction to begin (attack) the next movement immediately, without a gap or pause
Ausdruck (Ger) expression
ausdrucksvoll (Ger) expressively
avec (Fr) with or with another
B
B (Ger) B flat in German (and Icelandic); B natural is called H
barbaro barbarous (notably used in Allegro barbaro by Bιla Bartσk)
bass the lowest of the standard four voice ranges (bass, tenor, alto, soprano); the lowest melodic line in a musical composition, often thought of as defining and supporting the harmony
basso continuo continuous bass; i.e., a bass part played continuously throughout a piece to give harmonic structure, used especially in the Baroque period
beat (1) the pronounced rhythm of music; (2) one single stroke of a rhythmic accent
bellicoso warlike, aggressive
ben or bene well, as in, for example, ben marcato (meaning "well-marked")
bewegt (Ger) moved, speeded
bis (Lat) twice; i.e., repeat the relevant action or passage
bisbigliando whispering; i.e., a special tremolo effect on the harp where a chord or note is rapidly repeated at a low volume
bocca chiusa with closed mouth
bravura boldness; as in con bravura, boldly
breit (Ger) broad
bridge Transitional passage connecting two sections of a composition, also transition. Also the part of a string instrument that holds the strings in place.
brillante brilliantly, with sparkle
brio vigour; usually in con brio
brioso vigorously (same as con brio)
broken chord a chord in which the notes are not all played at once, but in some more or less consistent sequence. They may follow singly one after the other, or two notes may be immediately followed by another two, for example. See also arpeggio in this list, which as an accompaniment pattern may be seen as a kind of broken chord; see Alberti bass.
bruscamente brusquely
C
cadenza a solo section, usually in a concerto or similar work, that is used to display the performer's technique, sometimes at considerable length
calando falling away, or lowering; i.e., getting slower and quieter; ritardando along with diminuendo
calore warmth; so con calore, warmly
cambiare to change; i.e., any change, such as to a new instrument
cantabile or cantando in a singing style
capo head; i.e., the beginning (of a movement, normally)
capriccioso capriciously, unpredictable, volatile
cιdez (Fr) yield, give way
cesura or caesura (Latin form) break, stop; i.e., a complete break in sound (sometimes called "railroad tracks")
chiuso closed; i.e., muted by hand (for a horn, or similar instrument; but see also bocca chiusa, which uses the feminine form, in this list)
coda a tail; i.e., a closing section appended to a movement
codetta a small coda, but usually applied to a passage appended to a section of a movement, not to a whole movement
col, colla with the (col before a masculine noun, colla before a feminine noun); (see next for example)
colla parte with the soloist
colla voce with the voice
col legno with the wood; i.e., the strings (for example, of a violin) are to be struck with the wood of the bow; also battuta col legno: beaten with the wood
coloratura coloration; i.e., elaborate ornamentation of a vocal line, or (especially) a soprano voice suited to such elaboration
colossale tremendously
col pugno with the fist; i.e., bang the piano with the fist
come prima like the first (time); i.e., as before, typically referring to an earlier tempo
come sopra as above; i.e., like the previous tempo (usually)
common time the time signature 4/4: four beats per measure, each beat a quarter note (a crotchet) in length. 4/4 is often written on the musical staff as 'C'. The symbol is not a C as an abbreviation for common time, but a broken circle. The full circle at one time stood for triple time, 3/4.
comodo (or, commonly but less correctly, commodo) comfortable; i.e., at moderate speed; also, allegro comodo, tempo comodo, etc.
con with; used in very many musical directions, for example con allegrezza (with liveliness), con amore (with tenderness); (see also col, colla, above)
con amore, or (in Spanish and sometimes in Italian) con amor with love, tenderly
con affetto with affect (that is, with emotion)
con brio with spirit, with vigour
con dolore with sadness
con (gran, molto) espressione with (great, much) expression
con fuoco with fire, in a fiery manner
con larghezza with broadness; broadly
con moto with motion
con slancio with enthusiasm
con sordina, or con sordine (plural) with a mute; or with mutes; compare senza sordina in this list; see also Sordina. Note: sordina, with plural sordine, is strictly correct Italian, but the forms con sordino and con sordini are much more commonly used as terms in music.
con sordino, or con sordini (plural) (incorrect Italian) see con sordina, above
coperti (plural of coperto, which may also be seen) covered; i.e., on a drum, muted with a cloth
crescendo growing; i.e., progressively louder (contrast diminuendo)
cut time same as the meter 2/2: two half-note (minim) beats per measure. Notated and executed like common time (4/4), except with the beat lengths doubled. Indicated by three quarters of a circle with a vertical line through it, which resembles the cent symbol '’'. This comes from a literal cut of the 'C' symbol of common time. Thus, a quarter note in cut time is only half a beat long, and a measure has only two beats. See also alla breve.
D
da capo from the head; i.e., from the beginning (see capo in this list)
D.S. al coda or dal segno al coda (or, strictly but rarely seen, ...alla coda) from the sign to the coda; i.e., return to a place in the music designated by the sign and continue until directed to move to the coda, a separate ending section. (See Coda in this list.)
D.S. al fine or dal segno al fine from the sign to the end; i.e., return to a place in the music designated by the sign (see preceding entry) and continue to the end of the piece
D.S.S. al coda or dal segno al coda same as D.S. al coda, but with a double segno
D.S.S. al fine or dal segno al fine from the double sign to the end; i.e., return to place in the music designated by the double sign (see D.S. al coda) and continue to the end of the piece
deciso decisively
decrescendo or decresc. same as diminuendo or dim. (see below)
delicatamente or delicato delicately
devoto religiously
diminuendo, dim. dwindling; i.e., with gradually decreasing volume (same as decrescendo)
dissonante dissonant
divisi or div. 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. It is most often used for string instruments, since with them another means of execution is often possible. (The return from divisi is marked unisono: see in this list.)
dolce sweetly
dolcissimo very sweetly
dolente sorrowfully, plaintively
doloroso sorrowfully, plaintively
double stop the act of playing two notes simultaneously on a melodic percussion instrument or stringed instrument
D.S. Dal Segno (see above)
Dur (Ger) major; used in key signatures as, for example, A-Dur (A major), B-Dur (B♭ major), or H-Dur (B major). (See also moll (minor) in this list.)
dynamics refers to the relative volumes in the execution of a piece of music
E
eco the Italian word for "echo"; an effect in which a group of notes is repeated, usually more softly, and perhaps at a different octave, to create an echo effect
ein wenig (Ger) a little
Empfindung (Ger) feeling
encore (Fr) again; i.e., perform the relevant passage once more
en dehors (Fr) prominently
energico energetic, strong
enfatico emphatically
en pressant (Fr) hurrying forward
en retenant (Fr) slowing
eroico heroically
espirando expiring; i.e., dying away
espressivo or espr. expressively
estinto extinct, extinguished; i.e., as soft as possible, lifeless
etwas (Ger) somewhat
F
facile easily, without fuss
fermata finished, closed; i.e., a rest or note is to be held for a duration that is at the discretion of the performer or conductor (sometimes called bird's eye)
feroce ferociously
feurig (Ger) fiery
festivamente cheerfully, celebratory
fieramente proudly
fill (English) a sound (or combination of sounds) which "fills" the brief time between lyrical phrases and lines of melody
fine the end, often in phrases like al fine (to the end)
flebile mournfully
focoso or fuocoso fiery; i.e., passionately
forte or f (usually) strong; i.e., to be played or sung loudly
fortepiano or fp (usually) strong-gentle; i.e., 1. loud, then immediately soft (see dynamics), or 2. an early pianoforte
fortissimo as loudly as possible (see note at pianissimo, in this list)
forzando or fz see sforzando in this list
freddo cold(ly); hence depressive, unemotional
fresco freshly
fugue (Fr), fuga (Latin and Italian) literally "flight"; hance a complex and highly regimented contrapuntal form in music. A short theme (the subject) is introduced in one voice (or part) alone, then in others, with imitation and characteristic development as the piece progresses.
fuoco fire; con fuoco means with fire
furioso furiously

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