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The Music Studio of Kim Murray
Musical Terms and Definitions Musical Term a piacere
a tempo
accelerando
adagio
agitato
alla breve
allargando
allegretto
allegro
allegro non troppo
amabile
andante
andantino
animato
appagiatura
arpeggio
assai
canon
cantabile
chorale
coda
con brio
con espressione
con moto
con spirito
continuo
countermelody
D.C.
D.S.
development
dim. (diminuendo)
diminution
dolce
energico
espressivo, espr.
exposition
fiero
fine
fugato
fugue
giocoso
giusto
grave
harmonic minor
hemiola
langsam
larghetto
largo
Definition at the pleasure of the performer; with rubato
at the original tempo
gradually increase the tempo
slow (quarter note = approximately 50 to 60 on the metronome)
agitated; excited
cut time
slow down
quick and light, almost the same tempo as allegro
fast (quarter note = approximately 85 to 140 on the metronome)
fast, but not too fast (quarter note = approximately 85 to 120 on the metronome)
lovingly
slowly, walking tempo (quarter note = approximately 55 to 70 on the metronome)
a bit faster than andante, “dance-like” (quarter note = approximately 60 to 75 on the metronome)
animated; suggests a faster tempo such as moderato or allegro
a quick, decorative figure preceding a note
the articulation of a chord progressing from bottom to top, one note at a time
very much (i.e. allegro assai = very fast)
two or more instrumental voices playing the same musical melody at fixed intervals of time; I.e. a round
in a singing style
a musical style in which all voices or instruments move at the same (or very similar) rhythmic patterns on
different notes of the harmonic chords.
a musical extension at the end of a piece which "wraps up" the composition
with spirit; suggests a faster tempo, such as moderato or allegro
with expression
with motion; allow the music to flow along
with spirit; suggests a moderato or allegro tempo
a bass-line which continues throughout a piece or section of a piece which spells out the harmonic structure.
a secondary melody which is played in conjunction with and complements the primary melody
go back to the beginning. D.C. al fine: go back to the beginning and play until the fine
go back to the sign. D.S. al fine: go back to the beginning and play until the fine
the section of a composition or movement dedicated to expanding thematic ideas. Many changes of key often
take place in this section.
gradually get softer
alteration of a theme by giving original rhythmic durations half the value (I.e. quarter note becomes an eighth
note, etc.)
sweetly
with energy; usually played at a moderato or allegro speed
with expression (sometimes notated “espr.”)
the opening section of a composition or movement. Introduces themes which will be expanded upon in the
following sections
with fire
the end
in fugal style
a musical form which evolved from a canon (or "round"); involves two or more musical subjects which enter
the composition at different times and are continuously developed and expanded throughout the duration of
the piece.
joyful, humorous
at a strict tempo
very slow and serious; (quarter note = approximately 40 to 65 on the metronome)
harmonic scale pattern which alters the natural minor scale with a raised seventh scale degree ascending and
descending
three notes against a rhythmic pattern of two (I.e. a quarter-note triplet played over the space of two quarter
notes)
slow (quarter note = approximately 50 to 60 on the metronome)
slow and light; a bit faster than largo (quarter note = approximately 55 to 70 on the metronome)
very slow; slower than andante or adagio (quarter note = approximately 40 to 65 on the metronome)
The Music Studio of Kim Murray
Musical Terms and Definitions lebhaft
legato
legerement
lento
l'istesso tempo
maestoso
marcato
melodic minor
melody
meno mosso
mixed meter
moderato
molto
motif
morendo
mosso
obligato
perdendosi
pesante
piacevole
pieno
piu mosso
poco
poco a poco
poco piu mosso
polyrhythmic
presto
prestissimo
rallentando
rapidamente
recapitulation
resolution
ritardando
rubato
ruhig
scherzando
sempre
sequence
sf, sfz
sfp
simile
sostenuto
spirituoso
stentando
stringendo
suspension
syncopation
teneramente
tenuto
theme
tranquillo
tutti
vivace
lively
smooth, connected
lightly
slow, a bit faster than largo (quarter note = approximately 50 to 65 on the metronome)
same tempo (meter changes, but tempo does not)
majestic; usually played at a slow or moderato tempo
stressed
harmonic scale pattern which alters the natural minor scale with a raised sixth and seventh scale degree
ascending, and a subsequently lowered sixth and seventh scale degree descending.
an easily recognizable musical idea which can form the basis of a composition, usually "singable"
with less movement
a composition with regularly changing meters
medium speed (quarter note = approximately 65 to 100 on the metronome)
very
a short melodic or rhythmic idea that remains easily identifiable and recurs throughout a composition or
movement
dying away
movement, agitated
an accompanying part to the main melody
gradually dying away
heavy
pleasing, agreeable
full
with more movement
little
little by little
with a little bit more movement
multiple rhythmic ideas played simultaneously in a composition
very fast (quarter note = approximately 100 to 155 on the metronome)
as fast as possible (quarter note = approximately 100 to 155 on the metronome)
gradually slow down
rapidly, played at a fast tempo
the end of a composition or movement, often marked by a restatement of the opening theme in the original
key and sometimes followed by a coda
the movement of a note or notes to the expected chord.
gradually slowing down (often written “rit.”)
with flexible tempo
quietly, tranquil
quickly and lightly
same, always
repeated statements of a theme within one instrument with a different beginning note for each statement (I.e.
each statement starts on a different note in a scale)
suddenly loud
suddenly loud, then immediately soft
in a similar style as before
sustained
with spirit
delaying, holding back
quicken in tempo
holding a note in a chord past the expected point of resolution.
rhythmic pattern in which the off-beat receives the emphasis
tenderly
sustained for full value
a melody or musical idea which forms the basis of a musical composition or movement
tranquile
whole group plays
lively, brisk (quarter note = approximately 80 to 150 on the metronome)