accelerando, accel.
becoming quicker
accent
a stressed note
adagio
slow
allegro
fast
allegretto
fairly fast (a little slower than allegro)
andante
moderately slow; at a walking pace
andantino
a little faster than andante
a tempo
return to the original tempo
cantabile
in a singing style
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
espressivo, espress.
expressive, with expression
fine
the end
forte, f
loud
fortissimo, ff
very loud
grazioso
graceful
larghetto
fairly slow, but not as slow as largo
largo
very slow
legato
smooth
leggiero
light, nimble, quick
lento
slow
maestoso
majestic
mano destra, m.d.
right hand
mano sinistra, m.s.
left hand
marcato
marked or stressed
mezzo forte, mf
moderately loud
mezzo piano, mp
moderately soft
moderato
at a moderate tempo
molto
much, very
ottava, 8va
the interval of an octave
pedale, ped.
pedal
pianissimo, pp
very soft
piano, p
soft
poco
little
prestissimo
as fast as possible
presto
very fast
ritardando, rit.
slowing down gradually
rallentando, rall.
slowing down
rubato
with some freedom of tempo to enhance musical expression
spiritoso
spirited
staccato
detached
tempo
speed at which music is performed
Tempo primo (Tempo I)
return to the original tempo
tranquillo
quiet, tranquil
vivace
lively, brisk