2003 Senior All-State Terms

a poco a little; gradually leggiero lightly
a tempo in time; generally implies a return to original rate of speed lento very slow
maestoso majestically
accelerando (accel.) gradually faster marcato marked; with emphasis
adagietto slow, but not as slow as adagio marcia march style
adagio very slow marziale martial
agitato agitated; rapid meno less (such as meno mosso-less movement; slower)
al fine to the finish mezzo medium; half (such as mezzo-forte-medium loud;  mezzo-piano-medium soft)
alla in the style of (such as alla marcia-in the style of a march)
moderato moderately
allargando (allarg.) gradually slower and broader molto very
allegretto light and moderately quick, but not as fast as allegro morendo dying away
mosso motion; movement
allegro rapid; lively moto motion; movement
andante (andte) moderately slow, but moving non troppo not too much
andantino generally a little quicker than andante opus (op.) a musical work or composition
animato spirited ottava (8va)-an octave (such as ottava alta-octave higher; ottava bassa-octave lower)
appassionato intensely; passionately; with deep feeling
arioso in vocal style (also see "cantabile") pesante heavily; with emphasis
assai very (such as allegro assai-very fast) pianissimo (pp) very softly
ben well (such as ben marcato-well marked) piano (p) softly
brilliante brilliantly piu more (such as piu lento-slower; piu mosso-faster)
calando gradually slower and softer poco a little (such as poco animato-a little more animated; poco meno -a little less)
cantabile in a singing style
chromatic by semi-tones poco a poco little by little
coda the final added measures of a musical composition usually marked with coda.gif (98 bytes) prestissimo very fast; more so than presto
presto very fast
con with primo first
con amore with tenderness rallentando (rall.) gradually slower
con anima with animation; spirited religioso in solemn style
con brio with spirit; brilliantly ritardando (rit.) gradually slower
con forza with force ritenuto a steady pace, but slower than preceding tempo
con fuoco with fire, energy rubato temporary irregularity of time, lengthening certain notes at the expense of others
con grazia with graceful style
con spirito with spirit, brilliance scherzando in light, playful style
crescendo (cres.) (cresc.gif (82 bytes))-gradually louder scherzo playfully; usually in rapid tempo with rhythmic and dynamic contrasts
da capo (D.C.) from the beginning
dal segno (D.S.) from the sign ds.gif (131 bytes) segno the sign ds.gif (131 bytes)
decrescendo (decres.) (decresc.gif (83 bytes)) gradually softer sempre always; continually
diminuendo (dim.) (decresc.gif (83 bytes))gradually softer senza without
dolce sweetly sforzando (sfz) forced; with emphasis
energico energetically simile the same; continue in same manner
etude a study smorzando (smorz.) dying away
fermata (fermata.gif (73 bytes)) a hold or pause soli more than one performer in unison
forte ( f ) loud solo a composition or passage for one performer
fortissimo (ff) very loud sordino mute (con sordino- with mute; senza sordino- without mute)
forzando forcefully accented
furioso furiously sostenuto sustained
giocoso joyfully staccato separated, detached style
grandioso grand or noble style stringendo (string.) gradually faster
grave very slow and solemn subito suddenly
grazioso gracefully tacet silent
l'istesso the same (such as l'istesso tempo- the same speed) tempo time; speed
tempo di valse waltz time
larghetto slow, but not as slow as largo tenuto (ten.) sustain full value; also marked tenuto.gif (86 bytes)
larghissimo very slow; more so than largo valse waltz
largo very slow veloce very fast
legato smooth and connected vivace vivacious; lively
vivo lively, brisk

Definitions from the Selmer Band Manual by Nilo W. Hovey. Copyright 1955, The Selmer Company. Used by permission.

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