Italian Musical Terms
The lingua franca of Western music — Italian terms every musician must know.
171 terms
A24
A CappellaperformanceSinging without instrumental accompaniment.A dueperformanceFor two — two instruments or sections playing the same part …A tempotempoReturn to the original tempo after a deviation.AccelerandotempoGradually getting faster.Ad LibitumexpressionAt the performer's discretion; freely.AdagiettotempoSlightly faster than adagio, a moderately slow tempo between…AdagiotempoSlow, at easeAffettuosoexpressionWith affection and tenderness.AgitatoexpressionAgitated; restless and anxious in character.Al CodanavigationJump to the coda section when the coda symbol is reachedAl FinenavigationContinue playing until the point marked FineAlla brevetempoCut time — a tempo marking indicating two minim beats per ba…AllegrettotempoModerately fast, slightly slower than Allegro.AllegrotempoFast, lively tempoAmorosoexpressionLovingly, with tenderness and warm affection in the performa…AndantetempoAt a walking pace; moderately slow.AndantinotempoSlightly faster than Andante, though historically debated.AnimatoexpressionAnimated, with life and spirit.AppassionatoexpressionWith passion; performed with intense emotional fervour.ArcoarticulationWith the bow; resume bowing after pizzicato.AriaformA self-contained piece for solo voice with instrumental acco…ArpeggioarticulationNotes of a chord played in rapid succession rather than simu…AssaimodifierVery or quite — a modifier that intensifies the tempo or exp…AttaccaformProceed to the next movement without pause.
B2
C17
CadenzaformA virtuosic solo passage, often improvised, near the end of …CalandoexpressionDecreasing in both volume and tempo; winding down.CantabileexpressionIn a singing style; lyrical and flowing.CaponavigationThe head or beginning of a piece; the starting reference poi…CodaformA concluding passage that brings a piece or movement to an e…Col legnoarticulationWith the wood; striking strings with the bow stick.Colla parteperformanceFollow the soloist or lead voice, adjusting tempo to match t…ConmodifierWith — connects a musical direction to its qualifying elemen…Con animaexpressionWith soul and spirited feeling, bringing life and energy to …Con brioexpressionWith spirit; performed with vigour and brilliance.Con fuocoexpressionWith fire; performed with passionate intensity.Con graziaexpressionWith grace, elegance, and refined poise in the performanceCon motoexpressionWith motion; with movement.Con pedaleperformanceWith pedal — an instruction to use the sustain pedal on keyb…Con sordinoarticulationWith mute; using a mute on the instrument.ConcertoformA large-scale composition for solo instrument and orchestra,…CrescendodynamicsGradually getting louder
D11
Da CaponavigationFrom the beginning; return to the start of the piece.Da Capo al CodanavigationReturn to the beginning and play until the coda sign, then s…Da Capo al FinenavigationReturn to the beginning and play until the word Fine.Dal SegnonavigationFrom the sign; return to the segno symbol and play from ther…Dal Segno al CodanavigationRepeat from the sign to the coda mark, then jump to the coda…Dal Segno al FinenavigationReturn to the segno sign and play until the word Fine marks …DecrescendodynamicsGradually getting softer.DiminuendodynamicsGradually getting softer; decreasing in volume.DivisiperformanceDivided — string players in the same section split into two …DolceexpressionSweetly; with a gentle, tender quality.DolorosoexpressionSorrowfully, with grief.
E2
F9
FermatanotationA held note or rest; pause at the performer's discretion.FineformThe end; the point at which the piece concludes.FlautandoperformanceProduce a flute-like tone by bowing lightly near the fingerb…FortedynamicsLoud, strongForte piano (fp)dynamicsThe notational symbol fp — attack a note forte then immediat…FortepianodynamicsLoud then immediately soft; a sudden dynamic contrast on a s…FortissimodynamicsVery loud; much louder than forte.FortississimodynamicsExtremely loud; louder than fortissimo.FuriosoexpressionFuriously, with wild intensity and passionate rage in the pl…
G4
I2
L7
LacrimosoexpressionTearfully, with a weeping, sorrowful quality throughout the …LarghettotempoRather broadly, slightly faster than Largo.LargotempoVery slow and broad; the slowest standard tempo marking.LegatoarticulationSmooth, connectedLeggieroexpressionLightly, delicately.LentotempoSlow, between Adagio and Largo.LusingaexpressionCoaxingly, with a flattering and persuasive sweetness in the…
M17
MamodifierBut — introduces a contrasting or limiting qualificationMa non troppomodifierBut not too much — a moderating instruction that tempers an …MaestosoexpressionMajestic; with grandeur and dignity.Mano destraperformancePlay with the right hand, used primarily in keyboard musicMano sinistraperformancePlay with the left hand, used primarily in keyboard musicMarcatoarticulationMarked; each note played with strong emphasis.MartellatoarticulationHammered; strongly accented notes.MenomodifierLess — reduces the degree of the direction it modifiesMeno MossotempoLess motion; slower.MestoexpressionSadly, mournfully.Mezza vocedynamicsAt half voice; with restrained tone.Mezzo fortedynamicsModerately loud; half as loud as forte.Mezzo pianodynamicsModerately soft; half as soft as piano.MisteriosoexpressionMysteriously, with an air of mystery.ModeratotempoAt a moderate tempo; neither fast nor slow.MoltomodifierVery; much. A modifier that intensifies another musical dire…MorendodynamicsDying away; fading to silence in both volume and tempo.
N2
O4
P17
PateticoexpressionPathetically, with deep feeling and emotional suffering expr…PausenavigationA fermata; an instruction to hold a note or rest beyond its …PerdendosidynamicsDying away, becoming softer and usually slower.PesantearticulationHeavily, with weight.PianissimodynamicsVery soft; much quieter than piano.PianississimodynamicsExtremely soft; softer than pianissimo.PianodynamicsSoft, quietPiùmodifierMore — intensifies the direction it accompaniesPiù MossotempoMore motion; faster.PizzicatoarticulationPlucked with the finger rather than bowed.PocomodifierA little; slightly — used to qualify other musical direction…Poco a pocomodifierLittle by little — a gradual, incremental change applied to …PortamentoarticulationA smooth, vocal-style slide between two notes.PortatoarticulationCarried; between legato and staccato.PrestissimotempoAs fast as possible; the fastest standard tempo marking.PrestotempoVery fast; one of the quickest tempo markings.Prima voltanavigationFirst-time bracket indicating a passage played only on the f…
R9
RallentandotempoGradually slowing down; broadening the tempo.RecitativoformA vocal style imitating natural speech rhythms.ReligiosoexpressionIn a devout, reverent manner suggesting prayer or sacred con…ReplicanavigationA repeat; an instruction to perform the indicated section ag…RinforzandodynamicsA sudden increase in volume on a single note or short passag…RipresanavigationA return or recapitulation of earlier musical materialRisolutoexpressionResolutely, with determination.RitardandotempoGradually slowing downRubatotempoFlexible, stolen time
S23
ScherzandoexpressionPlayfully — a direction to perform the current passage with …ScherzoformA joke; a lively, often humorous movement.ScherzosoexpressionPlayful in character — describing the overall mood rather th…ScordaturaperformanceDeliberately mistuning one or more strings to alter timbre o…Seconda voltanavigationSecond-time bracket indicating a passage played only on the …SegnonavigationA sign used as a navigation marker in a musical score.SeguenavigationContinue directly to the next section without interruptionSempremodifierAlways; continuously throughout the passage.SenzamodifierWithout — removes a previously applied technique or qualitySenza sordinoperformanceWithout mute — removing the mute or, on piano, using the sus…SforzandodynamicsSudden strong accentSinfoniaformA symphony or orchestral introduction — a large-scale work f…SmorzandodynamicsDying away in tone and speed.SoloperformanceA passage for a single performer, with or without accompanim…SordamentearticulationA direction to play in a muted, dampened manner, suppressing…SostenutoarticulationSustained, holding notes for their full value with a smooth …Sotto vocedynamicsIn a subdued, hushed voice; very softly.SpiccatoarticulationA bouncing bow stroke producing short, separated notes.StaccatoarticulationShort, detached notesStringendotempoPressing forward; an instruction to accelerate the tempo wit…SubitomodifierSuddenly; an immediate change without transition.Sul ponticelloarticulationOn the bridge; bowing near the bridge for a glassy tone.Sul tastoarticulationOn the fingerboard; bowing over the fingerboard for a soft t…
T12
TacetperformanceSilent — an instruction that a performer or section does not…Tempo di valsetempoIn waltz time — a moderate triple-time tempo suitable for da…Tempo giustotempoAt a strict, regular tempo without flexibility or rubatoTempo primotempoReturn to the original tempo.TeneramenteexpressionTenderly, with gentle delicacy and emotional warmth in every…TenutoarticulationHeld for its full value; sustained with emphasis.TranquilloexpressionTranquil; calm and peaceful.TratteggiatoarticulationAn articulation marking indicating short, detached strokes d…Tre cordeperformanceRelease the soft pedal, allowing hammers to strike all three…TremoloarticulationRapid repetition of a single note or alternation between two…TroppomodifierToo much — used with non to mean not too much, moderating an…TuttiperformanceAll together; the entire ensemble plays.
U3
V5
VibratoarticulationA slight, rapid oscillation of pitch to enrich the tone.VivacetempoLively and fast; performed with energy and brightness.VivotempoLively and vivacious, similar to Vivace.VoltaformTurn; used in repeat structures (prima volta, seconda volta)…Volta subitonavigationTurn the page quickly to avoid a break in performance
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