accelerando, accel.
becoming quicker
accent
a stressed note
ad libitum, ad lib.
at the liberty of the performer
adagio
slow
alla, all'
in the manner of
allegretto
fairly fast (a little slower than allegro)
allegro
fast
andante
moderately slow; at a walking pace
andantino
a little faster than andante
animato
lively, animated
a tempo
return to the original tempo
ben, bene
well (for example, ben marcato: well marked)
cantabile
in a singing style
col, coll', colla, colle
with (for example, coll'ottava: with an added octave)
con
with
con brio
with vigor, spirit
con espressione
with expression
con fuoco
with fire
con grazia
with grace
con moto
with motion
crescendo, cresc.
becoming louder
da capo, D.C.
from the beginning
dal segno, D.S.
from the sign
D.C. al Fine
repeat from the beginning and end at Fine
decrescendo, decresc.
becoming softer
diminuendo, dim.
becoming softer
dolce
sweet, gentle
e, ed
and
espressivo, espress.
expressive, with expression
fine
the end
forte
loud
fortepiano
loud, then suddenly soft
grave
slow and solemn
grazioso
graceful
larghetto
fairly slow, but not as slow as largo
largo
very slow
legato
smooth
leggiero
light, nimble, quick
lento
slow
loco
return to the normal register
ma
but (for example, ma non troppo: but not too much)
maestro
majestic
mano destra, m.d.
right hand
mano sinistra, m.s.
left hand
marcato
marked or stressed
meno
less
meno mosso
less movement, slower
mezzo forte
moderately loud
mezzo piano
moderately soft
moderato
at a moderate tempo
molto
much, very
non
not
ottava, 8va
the interval of an octave
pedale, ped.
pedal
pianissimo
very soft
piano
soft
piu
more
piu mosso
more movement (quicker)
poco
little
poco a poco
little by little
prestissimo
as fast as possible
presto
very fast
primo, prima
first; the upper part of a duet
quasi
almost, as if
rallentando, rall.
slowing down
ritardando, rit.
slowing down gradually
rubato
with some freedom of tempo to enhance musical expression
secondo, seconda
second; second or lower part of a duet
sempre
always, continuously
senza
without
sforzando
sudden strong accent of a single note or chord
simile
continue in the same manner as has just been indicated
spiritoso
spirited
staccato
detached
subito
suddenly
tempo
speed at which music is performed
Tempo primo (Tempo I)
return to the original
tranquillo
quiet, tranquil
tre corde
three strings; release the left pedal (on the piano)
troppo
too much
una corda
one string; depress the left pedal (on the piano)
vivace
lively, brisk