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