| a tempo |
in time; generally implies a return to the original rate of speed |
| accelerando |
gradually faster |
| al fine |
to the finish |
| allegretto |
light and moderately quick, but not as fast as allegro |
| allegro |
rapid; lively |
| andante |
moderately slow, but moving |
| andantino |
generally a little quicker than andante |
| animato |
animated; spirited |
| cantabile |
in a singing style |
| chromatic |
by semi-tones |
| coda |
the final added measures of a musical composition |
| con brio |
with spirit; brilliantly |
| con spirito |
with spirit; brilliance |
| crescendo |
gradually louder |
| da capo |
from the beginning |
| dal segno |
from the sign |
| decrescendo |
gradually softer |
| diminuendo |
gradually softer |
| dolce |
sweetly |
| etude |
a study |
| fermata |
a hold or pause |
| forte |
loud |
| fortissimo |
very loud |
| grazioso |
gracefully |
| largo |
very slow |
| legato |
smooth and connected |
| maestoso |
majestically |
| marcato |
marked; with emphasis |
| marziale |
martial |
| mezzo |
medium; half |
| moderato |
moderately |
| molto |
very |
| pianissimo |
very softly |
| piano |
softly |
| poco a poco |
little by little |
| presto |
very fast |
| rallentando |
gradually slower |
| ritardando |
gradually slower |
| segno |
the sign |
| soli |
more than one performer in unison |
| solo |
a composition or passage for one performer |
| staccato |
separated, detached style |
| tacet |
silent |
| tempo |
time; speed |
| tenuto |
sustain full value |