Music Theory - Expression Marks
Tempo
Largo Very slow Larghetto Not as slow as largo Adagio Slow, leisurely Lento Slow Moderato Moderate Andante Moving with a moderate tempo Andantino Faster than andante Allegretto A little slower than allegro Allegro Moderately fast Vivace Lively, animated, brisk Presto Fast, rapid Prestissimo Very rapidly
Dynamics
Pianissimo Very soft Piano Soft Mezzo piano Moderately soft Mezzo forte Moderately loud Forte Loud Fortissimo Very loud Crescendo Increasing in loudness Decrescendo decreasing in loudness Diminuendo diminishing in loudness Rinforzando sudden increase in loudness Sforzando play the note with sudden emphasis
Amoroso tender and affectionate Animato animated; lively Calando gradually softer and slower Cantabile in a singing style Con Anima with life and animation Con Brio with vigor and spirit Con Fuoco with energy or passion Deciso decisively Detache detached Dolce sweetly Doloroso sorrowfully Espressivo expressively Furioso furious Giocoso humorous Grandioso with grandeur Grazioso gracefully Legato smooth and connected Leggiero lightly Maestoso majestically Marcato marked and stressed Marzial in the style of a march Morendo dying away Perdendosi dying away Pesante heavy Religioso religious, solemn Rubato taken out of tempo Semplice simple Sempre always, continuously Sostenuto sustained Soto voce in an undertone Staccato short and detached Tenuto sustained, held for full value Tranquillo tranquill Articulation
Staccato a dot placed above or below a note means to play it short Slur a curved line either above or below notes that connects two different pitches that are to be played smoothly Tie a curved line either above or below two of the same notes indicating not to attack the second note Tenuto a line above or below the note means to play the full value of the note Accent an accent placed above or below the note means to emphasise the not Breath Mark an apostrophe placed above the staff means to take a breath Clarity Terms
Assai very Con with L'istesso tempo same tempo Meno less Mosso moved, agitated Non troppo not too much Piu mosso faster Poco little Poco a poco little by little Sempre always Simile in the same manner Subito suddenly
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