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