Musical Terms

The following are terms that you might come in contact with throughout your own studies of music. While I realize the list is by no means comprehensive, I did try and include the more well-used terms.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

A

A.
By, for, to, at, etc.
ABSOLUTE
Absolute music. Music which is inspired by itself rather than extramusical implications such as the stories or legends of "program" music.
A CAPPRICIO
In a capricious manner.
ACCELERANDO (accel.)
Gradually faster.
ACCENT
Stress of one tone over others, making it stand out; often it is the first beat of a measure
ACCIDENTALS
The name applies to shaprs, flats, naturals, double sharps, double flats occuring in music elsewhere than in the signature.
ACCOMPANIMENT
Music that goes along with a more important part; often harmony or rhythmic patterns accompanying a melody.
ACOUSTICS
The science which deals with the nature and properties of sound.
ADAGIO
Slowly, leisurely; slower than andante, faster than largo.
ADAGIO ASSAI
Very slowly, with much expression.
ADAGISSIMO
Extremely slow.
ADDOLORATO
Sorrofully.
AD LIBITUM (ad lib)
Freely, without restraint by time.
AD LIBBED
Modern term - to improvise.
A DUE
Return to unison after divisi.
AFFETTUOSO (affet)
With tender feeling or emotion.
AFFRETTANDO (affret)
Quickening, hurying.
AGILMENTE
Lively.
AGITADO
Restless, agitated.
ALBUM
A full length recording.
AL CODA
To the coda.
ALEATORIC or ALEATORY
Chance music in which the performers are free to perform their own material and/or their own manner of presentation.
AL FINE
To the end.
ALLA
In the style of.
ALLA BREVE
Cut time; meter in which there are two beats in each measure and a half note receives one beat.
ALLARGANDO (allarg)
Gradually slower, louder, and broader
ALLEGRETTO (alltto)
Light and cheerful, faster than moderato, slower than allegro.
ALLEGRO (allo)
Lively, brisk, rapid
AL SEGNO
Return to the sign.
ALTERATION
The raising or lowering of a note by means of an accidental.
ALTISSIMO
Highest as to pitch, above F3.
AMOROSO
Affectionately.
ANDANTE
In moderately slow time, flowing easily and gracefully.
ANDANTE CON MOTO
Moving easily with motion
ANDANTINO
Lighter and faster than andante (often used in the reverse sense)
ANIMATO
With life and animation.
A PIACERE
At pleasure (ad libitum).
A POCO
By degrees, gradually.
APPASSIONATO
With passion and intense feeling.
APPOGGIATURA
Grace note, a note of embellishment
ARIA
An operatic vocal composition.
ARPEGGIO
Notes of a chord played in sequence.
ASSAI
Very.
ASSAI PIU
Much more.
A TEMPO
In the original time.
ATTACCA
To attack or begin without pausing.
AUGMENTED
A term applied to intervals where the interval is enlarged by one half-step.
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B

BACHELOR OF MUSIC
The first musical degree.
BALLET
A play where dancing and pantomime are used.
BAROQUE
Relating to the period from about 1600-1750, characterized by grandeur and heavy elaboration of design in music.
BASSA
Lower the note an octave.
BEBOP
A name applied to a style of music which employs unusual rhythms and harmonies, unresolved dissonances, and odd and contrasting melodic intervals.
BEND
Lip slur down and back from written note.
BINARY FORM
Two-part form; the structure of a musical composition consisting of two main sections.
BOLERO
A lively Spanish dance.
BRAVURA
Brilliantly; boldly.
BRILLIANTE
Bright, sparkling, brilliant.
BRIO
Vigor, life, spirit.
BRIOSO
Lively, spiritedly.
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C

CADENCE
A close of harmony into a passive chord; closing of a phrase or section of music.
CADENZA
An elaborate solo passage played ad libitum.
CALANDO
Gradually softer and slower.
CANON
A musical form in which one voice is imitated by another on the same or a different interval.
CANTATA
Choral music less pretentious than an oratorio; a short lyric form dealing with either secular or sacred subjects.
CANTO
A song or melody; also the art of singing.
CANZONE
A graceful two- or three-part song.
CAPO
The top, head, or beginning.
CAPRICCIO
A fanciful composition in a free style.
CAPRICE
A whimsical, fanciful composition.
CHACONA
Slow Spanish movement in three-four time.
CHORD
Three or more notes sounded together harmoniously.
CHROMATIC
Progressing in semi-tones (half-steps)
CLASSICAL
Referring to that period from approximately 1750-1800, characterized musically by objectivity of the composer, emotional restraint, and simple harmonies.
CO., COI, COL
With; the.
CODA
A supplement at the end of a composition.
COMMERCIAL
S=Music to appeal to popular tastes.
CON
With.
CONCERTO
A composition for displaying the qualities of some special instrument and accompanied by others; written in symphonic form.
CONSONANCE
A simultaneious sounding of tones that produces a feeling of rest, i.e., a feeling that there is no need for further resolution.
COUNTERPOINT
The combining of two or more melodies of equal individuality.
CRESCENDO
A gradual increasing in loudness.
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D

DA, DAL
From, by, or for.
DA CAPO (D.C.)
Repeat from beginning.
DA CAPO AL FINE (D.C. al Fine)
Return to beginning and play to Fine.
DA CAPO AL SEGNO (D.C. al Segno)
Repeat from sign.
DAL SEGNO (D.S.)
Repeat from sign.
DECRESCENDO
Gradual decreasing in loudness.
DELICATO
Delicately.
DECISO
Decided, with firmness.
DIATONIC
Concerning the seven intervals within the octave of a natural scale.
DIMINISHED
Referring to intervals that are less than minor or perfect intervals.
DIMINUENDO
Gradually softer.
DISSONANCE
A simultaneous sounding of tones that produces a feeling of tension or unrest and a feeling that further resolution is needed.
DIVISI
Divided, each part to be played by a separate instrument.
DIXIELAND
Original jazz music characterized by loud and accented off-beats and a fast tempo.
DO
First syllable of a scale in solfeggio.
DOCTOR OF MUSIC
The highest honorary musical degree conferred by the universities.
DOLCE
Softly, sweetly, delicately.
DOLCISSIMO
Very sweetly and delicately.
DOLORE
Sorrow, sadness, grief.
DOLOROSO
Doolorously, sadly.
DOMINANT
The theoretical name of the fifth note of the scale.
DOMINANT CHORD
The chord built on the fifth note of the scale.
DYNAMICS
Expression produced by power or intensity applied to notes.
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E

ELEGANTE
Elegant, graceful.
ELEGY
A mournful, plaintive composition.
EMBOUCHURE
That part of a mouthpiece of a wind instrument to which the lips are applied; also the position the mouth takes in playing.
ENERGICO
Forceful, energetic.
ENHARMONIC
Alike in pitch, but different in notation.
ENSEMBLE
Several performers playing as a group.
EROICO
Brave, heroic.
ESPRESSIONE
Expressively.
ESPRESSIVO
With expression
ETUDE
A musical study.
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F

FA
Fourth syllable of a scale in solfeggio.
FANTASIA
A fancy, or whim of the imagination.
FERMATA
A pause, stop, or interruption as that before the cadenza of a concerto.
FINALE
The concluding movement.
FINE
The end, the conclusion.
FORTE
Loud, strong.
FORTE-PIANO
Accent strongly, diminishing immediately to piano.
FORTISSIMO
Very loud.
FORZA
Force, power, strength.
FORZANDO
Intensity on one note.
FOURTH
An interval of four tones diatonically (five half-tones)
FUGUE
A polyphonic composition constructed on short themes which are harmonized by the rules of counterpoint and conataining the subject, the answer, countersubject, and stretto, utilizing these in more than one voice contrapuntally.
FUOCO
Fiery, with passion.
FURIOSO
Furiously, vehemently, madly.
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G

GALOP
A quick dance in two-four time.
GAVOTTE
A lively yet dignified dance tune.
GIGUE
A jig or lively dance in six-eight time.
GIOCOSO
Playful, humorously, sportively.
GLISSANDO
Slurred smoothly in a gliding manner.
GRACIOSO
Graceful.
GRAVE
Grand, stately, noble.
GRAZIA
Grace, elegence.
GRAZIOSO
In a graceful manner.
GUSTO
Expression, appreciation.
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H

HABANERA
A slow Spanish dance in three-four time.
HARMONY
The pleasant agreement of two or more united tones.
HOMOPHONY
Having one melody predominating.
HUMORESQUE
A capricious fantastic composition.
HYMN
A short religious choral composition.
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I

IMITATION
The repetition of a theme in another voice, called consequent.
IMPETUOSO
Impetuous or vehement.
IMPROVISE
To sing or play freely that which is mentally concieved without previous preparation.
INTERMEZZO
Detached pieces between two acts of an opera.
INTERVAL
The distance between two notes.
ISTESSO
The same.
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J

JAM SESSION
Informal rehearsla for recreation.
JIVE
Modern, to swing with combo.
JUBILOSO
Exulting.
JUMP
Modern, fast tempo, strong beat.
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K

KEYNOTE
The tonic or first note of a scale.
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L

LA
Sixth syllable of a scale in solfeggio.
LAMENTOSO
Lamentably, sadly.
LANGSAM
Slowly, about largo.
LARGAMENTO
Broadly, fully.
LARGHETTO
Slowly like andantino.
LARGHISSIMO
Extremely slow.
LARGO
Broadly, slowly; the slowest tempo mark.
LEADING NOTE
The major seventh note of a scale.
LEGATO
Smoothly, evenly.
LEGGIERO
Easily, lightly, delicatly.
LENTO
Slow, between andante and largo.
LIFT
To play melody with light accent.
L'ISTESSO
The same.
L'ISTESSO TEMPO
The same as before.
LOCO
As written.
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M

M.M.
Abbreviation for Maelzel's Metronome.
MA
But, as.
MAESTOSO
Majestic, stately, dignified.
MAGGIORE
Major key.
MAJOR
Greater in respect to scales, intervals, chords, etc.
MA NON TROPPO
But not too fast.
MARCATO
Marked, accented.
MARTELLATO
Strongly marked or hammered.
MARZIALE
Martial in march style.
MAZURKA
A lively but sentimental Polish dance in three-eight time or three-four time.
MEDIANT
The third note of a scale.
MELODY
An arrangement of single tones in a meaningful sequence.
MENO
Less.
MENO MOSSO
Less motion, slower.
MEZZO
In half; moderately.
MEZZO-FORTE
Moderately loud.
MEZZO-PIANO
Moderately soft
MI
The third syllable of a scale in solfeggio.
MINOR
Smaller in respect to scales, intervals, chords, etc.
MINUET
A graceful dance in three-four time.
MODERATO
Moderately; in moderate time.
MOLTO
Much, very.
MOTIVE
The characteristic or predominant passage of an air.
MORDENT
An embellishment of two or more notes.
MORENDO
Dying away in tone and time.
MOSSO
Motion, movement.
MOTO
Motion, movement.
MOTO PRIMO
The same time as the first.
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N

NOCTURNE
A composition in a gentle, quiet mood.
NON
Not, no.
NON TANTO
Not too much.
NOTATION
The art of writing musical sounds with characters.
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O

OBBLIGATO
Counter melody used as embellishment.
OCTAVE
The interval from any tone to the eighth note above or below in the same scale.
OPERA
A dramatic play with music, acting, and scenerey combined.
OPERETTA
A lighter form of opera with more spoken dialogue.
OPUS
A work or composition.
ORATORIO
A large choral and instrumentla composition characterizing religious subjects or stories.
OSSIA
Or, otherwise; indicating an easier way.
OSTINATO
A repeated melodic or rhythimic fragment.
OTTAVA
To be played an ocatve higher.
OVERTURE
An introductory composition toan opera, oratorio, play, or any performance.
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P

PASSIONATO
Impassioned, with fervor.
PASTORALE
A movement of rural, or pastoral nature.
PAUSE
A rest or pause.
PESANTE
Heavy, ponderous, with weight.
PIACERE
Pleasure, without restraint.
PIANISSIMO
Extremely soft.
PIANO
Soft, gentile.
PIU
More.
PIU ALLEGRO
More lively
PIZZICATO
Strings to be pinched or snapped with fingers.
POCO
Little.
POCO ANIMATO
A little more animated.
POCO A POCO
Little by little.
POCO PIU
A little more.
POLACCA
Polish; applied to Polish dance music.
POLKA
Fast lively dance, originated in central Europe.
POLONAISE
A chivalrous Polish dance.
POLYPHONY
A combination of many voices.
POMPOSO
Pompous.
PRESTISSIMO
As quickly as possible.
PRESTO
Quickly, faster than allegro.
PRIMO
The first.
PROGRAM MUSIC
Music that describes scenes, objects, or events.
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Q

QUARTETTE
A composition for four voices or instruments.
QUASI
As if, in the style of.
QUASI ALLEGRETTO
Like an allegretto.
QUINTETTE
A composition for five voices or instruments.
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R

RALLANTANDO
Gradually slower.
RE
The second syllable of a scale in solfeggio.
RECITANDO
Declamatory, in a spoken manner.
RECITATIVO
A musical form in which the text is recited for dramatic effect; accompaniment is seldom or only lightly used.
RELIGIOSO
In a devotional, religious manner.
REPLICA
Reply or repetition.
REPLICATO
Repeated.
RESOLUTION
The changing of dissonance into consonant harmony.
RETROGRADE
A form of contrapuntal imitation in which the melody is played backwards.
RHAPSODY
A wild free composition.
RINFORZANDO
Strengthened, reinforced.
RISOLUTO
With bold, energetic resolve.
RITARD
Gradually slackening the pace.
RITARDANDO
Delaying the time gradually.
ROMANCE
A melody suggestive of a love story.
ROMATNIC
Relating to the nineteenth-century musical period characterized by subjectivity on the part of the composer, emotionalism in music, longer musical forms, and richer harmonies.
ROOT
The fundamental note of a chord.
ROOT POSITION
The position of a chord in which the root appears as the lowest tone.
RUBATO
Robbing or taking from the notes their strict value; (see ad libitum).
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S

SANS
Without.
SANS PAROLES
Without words.
SCALE
A graduated series of tones arranged in a specific order.
SCHERSANDO (scherz.)
Playful, lively, sportive.
SCHERZO
Joke, jest; a sprightly movement, light and humorous in nature.
SCHMALTZ
Modern sentimental style.
SECOND
The interval between any note of the scale and the next above or below.
SECONDO (2do)
Second; second voice or part.
SEGNO (seg.)
A sign.
SEGUE
Continue in like manner.
SEGUE LA FINALE
The finale follows.
SEMPLICE
Simple, pure, plain.
SEMPER (semp.)
Always, evermore.
SEMPER FORTE
Continually loud.
SENZA
Without.
SENZA PIANO
Without the piano.
SEVENTH
Interval of seven steps.
SFORZA
Forced, with energy.
SFORZANDO
With sudden emphasis.
SI
The seventh syllable of a scale in solfeggio.
SIMILE
Similarily continue in a like manner.
SI PLACE
Asyou please.
SIXTH
Distance of six diatonic notes.
SLUR
A curved line drawn over two or more notes of different pitches, indicating that they are to be executed in a smoothly connected manner without a break.
SMEAR
Lip slur from one note to another.
SMORZNADO(smorz.)
Extinguished; gradually dying away.
SOLO
A composition for a single voice or instrument.
SOLI
Plural of solo
SORDINO
A mute.
SOSTENUTO (sost.)
Sustained, prolonged; holding the notes for full duration.
SOAVE
Gentle, suave, delicate.
SONATA
A musical form of three or four movements of different character.
SONATINA
A light, short sonata; not developed as fully as the sonata.
SOTTO VOCE
In a quiet, subdued tone.
SPICCATO
Distinct, pointed, detached, peppery.
SPIRITO
Spirit, life.
STACCATO
Sharply detached or separated.
STESSO
The same.
STRAIGHT
Modern, played as written.
STRETTA
A coda in faster tempo to enhance the effect.
STRETTO
Pressed close, contracted, as a previous movement played fast.
STRINGENDO (string)
Pressing or accelerating.
STYLE
The peculiarities of a composer or performer; individual characteristics of a composition.
SUB
Under, below, beneath.
SUBDOMINANT
The fourth note in any scale or key.
SUBITO
Immediately, at once.
SUBMEDIANT
The sixth note of any scale or key.
SUFFOCATO
Choked; as with grief.
SUITE
A series or set of pieces.
SUO LOCO
In its usual place.
SUPER
Above.
SUPERTONIC
The second note in any scale or key.
SYMPHONY
An orchestral composition written in sonata form.
SYNCOPATION
A rhythmic disturbance caused by placing a strong accent on a weak beat and prolonging it over a strong beat.
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T

TACET
Be silent; not to be played.
TAKE IT
Modern, to improvise.
TANTINO
A little.
TANTO
So much; as much as.
TARANTELLA
A swift delirious dance in six-eight time.
TEMPESTOSO
Stormy, tempestuous, noisy.
TEMPI
Plural of tempo.
TEMPO
Measured movement or rate of speed.
TEMPO DI VALSE
In waltz time.
TEMPO RUBATO
Irregular time to give greater expression.
TENUTO
To hold for full time.
TERZETTO
A composition of three voices.
THEME
A short musical passage that states an idea. It often provides the basis for variations, development, etc.
THIRD
The distance of three diatonic notes.
TI
The seventh syllable in a scale of solfeggio.
TIMBRE
The quality of a musical tone taht distinguishes voices and instruments.
TIMOROSO
Timorously, with hesitation.
TONE
A musical sound; the quality of a musical sound.
TONE POEM
A slow, restful composition with simple melody and harmony.
TONIC
The keynote or note of repose of any scale from which all others are determined.
TRANQUILLO
Tranquilly, calmly.
TRANSITION
Passing suddenly from one key to another.
TREMOLO (trem)
A tremulous fluctuation of tone.
TRIAD
A chord of three notes - root, third, and fifth.
TRIO
A composition for three instruments.
TRIPLET
A group of three notes played in the time of two of the same value.
TROPPO
Too; too much.
TURN
An embellsihment of a note by using it with the note above and below preceded and followed by the principal note.
TUTTI
All instruments.
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U

UN A
One, an.
UNA CORDA
On one string; in pianoforte to use soft pedal.
UNISON
One sound; unison.
UNO A UNO
One by one; one after another.
UN PEU
A little.
UNO POCO
A little.
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V

VALSE
A waltz or dance in three-four time.
VARIATIONS (var)
The transformation of a melody or theme by means of harmonic, rhythmic, and melodic changes and embellishments.
VELOCE
In quick, swift, rapid time.
VELOCISSIMO
Extremely swift and quick.
VIBRATO MOLTO
An extremely rapid vibration.
VIOLENTO
Violently, passionately.
VIVACE
With vivacity; lively, qucik.
VIVACISSIMO
Estremely vivacious.
VIVO
With life and animation.
VOLANTE
Flying; flying over a series of notes.
VOLTI
Turn over.
VOLTI SUBITO (V.S.)
Turn over quickly.
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W

WALTZ
A modern dance in three-four time.
WALZER
A waltz; the German national dance.
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X

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Y

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Z

ZART
Tenderly, softly, delicately.
ZELOSO
Ardent, earnest.
ZINGARO
Gypsy; in the gypsy style.
ZOPPO
The same.
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