| A |
^TOP |
| a cappella
|
singing unaccompanied
|
| Accel., Accelerando
|
Gradually becoming faster
|
| Accent
|
> or < placed above a note to indicate stress or emphasis
|
| Accidental
|
A sharp, flat, or natural not included in the given key.
|
| Accompaniment
|
A vocal or instrument part that supports or is background for a solo part.
|
| Adagio
|
Moderately Slow
|
| Addolorato
|
Sorrowfully
|
| Affrettando
|
Hurrying
|
| Agilmente
|
Lively
|
| Al coda
|
Goto the coda
|
| Al fine
|
Goto the end
|
| Al segno
|
Return to the sign, Dal
segno.
|
| alla breve
|
cut time, simple meter with the half note as the beat
|
| Alla breve
|
Cut time; meter in which there are two beats in each measure and a half note receives one beat.
|
| Allegretto
|
A little slower than allegro
|
| Allegro
|
Fast
|
| Alteration
|
The raising or lowering of a note by means of an accidental.
|
| Alto clef
|
The C clef falling on the third line of the staff. Most of the time is used by the viola.
|
| anacrusis
|
upbeat
|
| Ancora
|
Repeat
|
| Andante
|
"Walking" Tempo
|
| Andantino
|
A little faster than andante
|
| Animato
|
Lively
|
| aria
|
a song with instrumental accompaniment
|
| Arrangement
|
An adaption of a composition.
|
| Articulation
|
The degree to which notes are separated or connected, such as staccato or legato.
|
| asymmetric meter
|
a meter such as 5/8 or 7/4 where there is unequal division of the measure. the accents occur irregularly
|
| B |
^TOP
|
| Bass Clef
|
The other name for the F clef.
|
| C |
^TOP |
| C clef
|
A clef usually centered on the first line (soprano clef), third line (alto clef), fourth line (tenor clef), or third space (vocal tenor clef) of the staff. Wherever it is centered, that line or space becomes middle C.
|
| Cadence
|
A chordal or melodic progression which occurs at the close of a phrase, section, or composition, giving a feeling of repose; a temporary or permanent ending. The most frequently used cadences are perfect, plagal, and deceptive.
|
| cadenza
|
a solo passage in improvisatory style
|
| Chord
|
A combination of three or more tones sounded simultaneously.
|
| Chromatic
|
Ascending or descending by half steps.
|
| Chromatic Scale
|
A scale composed of 12 half steps.
|
| Circle of fifths
|
The succession of keys or chords proceeding by fifths.
|
| clef
|
signs written at the beginning of each staff which designate the pitches of the lines and spaces; there are three such signs
|
| Coda
|
Closing section of a composition. An added ending.
|
| common time
|
(C) 4/4
|
| Concertino
|
A short concerto. The group of soloists in a concerto
grosso.
|
| Concerto
|
A piece for a soloist and orchestra.
|
| Crescendo
|
<cresc.: gradually becoming louder
|
| Cue
|
1) Indication by the conductor or for a performer to make an entry.
2) Small notes that indicate another performer's part.
|
| cut time
|
see alla breve
|
| D |
^TOP |
| Decrescendo
|
>decresc.: gradually becoming softer
|
| Diminuendo
|
Dim: gradually becoming softer
|
| doppio
|
double
|
| E |
^TOP |
| F |
^TOP |
| Forte
|
f: loud
|
| Fortissimo
|
ff: very loud
|
| Fortississimo
|
fff: very very loud
|
| G |
^TOP |
| Grand Pause
|
a // indicating complete silence, until the conductor continues
|
| Grave
|
Very Slow
|
| ground bass
|
a phrase continuously repeated in the bass
|
| H |
^TOP |
| half cadence
|
an incomplete cadence
|
| harmony
|
the simultaneous occurrence of musical tones, as opposed to melody
|
| homophony
|
music in which a melody is supported by a chordal accompaniment
|
| I |
^TOP |
| intonation
|
accuracy of pitch (singing and playing)
|
| intonation
|
degree of adherence to correct pitch. Good intonation implies close approximation of the pitch; poor intonation implies deviation from pitch
|
| J |
^TOP |
| K |
^TOP |
| L |
^TOP |
| Larghetto
|
A little faster than largo.
|
| Largo
|
Slow
|
| ledger lines
|
short lines drawn underneath or above the staff for notes too high or too low to appear on the staff
|
| M |
^TOP |
| maggiore
|
major
|
| melody
|
a succession of musical tones, as opposed to harmony
|
| Messa di voce
|
<>: gradually becoming louder then softer
|
| metronome
|
a pendulum device used to keep tempo
|
| metronome
|
a pendulum device used to keep tempo
|
| Mezzo Forte
|
mf: medium loud
|
| Mezzo Piano
|
mp: medium soft
|
| minore
|
minor
|
| Moderato
|
Moderately
|
| modulation
|
change of key in the during a composition
|
| monophony
|
music with a single unaccompanied melody
|
| N |
^TOP |
| O |
^TOP |
| octaves
|
the interval embracing eight diatonic tones
|
| opus
|
a musical composition
|
| ostinato
|
a figure or phrase continuously repeated throughout a composition
|
| ottava
|
octave
|
| P |
^TOP |
| Pianissimo
|
pp: very soft
|
| Pianississimo
|
ppp: very very slow
|
| Piano
|
p: soft
|
| pitches
|
a term referring to the high-low quality of a musical sound. The pitch is determined by the frequency of the tone, i.e., the number of vibrations per second
|
| polychord
|
a combination of two or more chords
|
| polytonality
|
the simultaneous use of multiple keys
|
| Prestissimo
|
Faster than presto
|
| Presto
|
Presto
|
| prime
|
perfect unison
|
| Q |
^TOP |
| R |
^TOP |
| Rit., Ritardando
|
Gradually becoming slower
|
| S |
^TOP |
| segno
|
sign
|
| sequence
|
duplication of a tonal pattern in the same part at a different pitch
|
| staff
|
five parallel horizontal lines, upon and between which musical notes are written, thus indicating their relative pitch and, in connection with a clef, their absolute pitch
|
| T |
^TOP |
| thoroughbass
|
figured bass
|
| timbre
|
tone / quality
|
| U |
^TOP |
| V |
^TOP |
| virtuoso
|
a performer who excels in technical ability
|
| Vivace
|
Lively
|
| W |
^TOP |
| X |
^TOP |
| Y |
^TOP |
| Z |
^TOP |
