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Orchestra Terms Animato Play with increasing animation, liveliness, and expression. A tempo In tempo. "A tempo" is used after some variation in the tempo, and means return to the original tempo or speed. Also Tempo I. intense emotion and feeling. (plucked) section of music, arco is often used to indicate the next passage of music should be playing forcefully. Indicated by the sign: > played with the bow. Accidentals A sign indicating a momentary accompaniment, used in genres such as an sharp or natural to temporarily alter the pitch of a opera, oratorio or cantata. Articulation Articulation describes the manner immediately following the symbol, and remain in of providing definition and shape to individual effect throughout the measure in which it notes or phrases. For string players, this appears. involves both the right and left hand. The main Adagio A slow, leisurely tempo, often markings are a dot . which means shorten the note, a line _ or slur which means play the note smoothly, and an accent > which means piece are sometimes titled Adagio. add a forceful emphasis. These markings are Agitato Agitated or restless. Agitato is a often used in combination with each other, and direction to play in an agitated manner. mean many different things to different Air A melody, tune or song. In fiddle music, airs musicians. are often played slowly with rubato, and are not Aria An elaborate vocal solo with instrumental departure from the key signature by using a flat, quite as slow as largo. Slow movements of a Arco Arco is Italian for bow. After a pizzicato means the note should be emphasized by considered to be slower than andante, but not Appassionato Play passionately or with Accent An accent placed over or under a note note by a half step. Accidentals apply to the note spirited manner. Accelerando Accelerate or gradually increase the tempo or speed of the music. Animato "Animated" or spirited. Play in a lively, Assai Assai means "very" in Italian. It modifies dance tunes. other terms when added to them, e.g. allegro Allegretto A lively and moderately fast tempo. assai means very fast. Often considered to be slower than allegro, but Assez Assez means "enough" or "rather" in faster than andante. French. It modifies other terms when added to Allegro A quick, lively and fast tempo (not quite them, e.g. assez vif means "rather lively" in as fast as presto). French (vif means lively), and assez vite means Amore Play with love, lovingly. "rather fast" (vite means fast). Andante A moderately slow tempo. Often Atonality Music with an absence of tonality. considered to be a walking speed. Traditional tonal structures are intentionally Andantino A slightly slower tempo than ignored or abandoned in this contemporary form andante (andante is a moderately slow tempo). of music. Au talon Talon is French for frog, and the term describes music suitable for performance in a should be played with the bow at the frog (other chamber, meaning a room or small hall instead terms for frog include nut or heel). of a large concert hall. Today, chamber music is Augmented Augmented means raised, and used to describe instrumental music performed when the term augmented is combined with a by a small ensemble such as a quartet, trio or specific interval between notes, it means to raise chamber orchestra. Classical Term used to describe the music of the period 1750-1830. Composer include interval of a perfect fourth. Mozart, Haydn, and the early work of Baroque Term used to describe the music of Beethoven. Coda An Italian word for "tail," coda is a Bach, Corelli, Handel, Telemann. musical term referring to a concluding section of Blue notes When the third, fifth, or seventh a composition. notes of a major scale are flattened, these notes augmented fourth is a half-step larger than the the period 1600-1750. Composer include J.S. Chamber music The term chamber music au talon is used in sections of music which the interval by a half-step. For example, an Col legno "With the wood." Col legno means to are called blue notes. Blue notes are frequently strike the string with the stick of the bow rather used in blues and jazz music than the hair (it is also called col legno battuto). Bow lift The sign for a bow lift is: When there are extended col legno passages in and indicates the string player should lift their bow, music, some professional violinists use and return it to its starting point. inexpensive bows to avoid damaging their Breve Short. expensive bows. Col legno tratto is a less Brio Spirited and lively. Con brio means play commonly used bowing direction. It indicates with spirit in a vivacious manner. draw the wood of the bow across the string (use Caccia Caccia means chase or hunt, and with caution, this can damage the wood of the describes a canonic form of music, often with bow). two voices chasing each other with an Collé Collé means glued. It is a very short underlying third part. Hunting music themes stroke, and begins with the bow lightly were often used in this form of music. contacting the string with a distinct and short, Cantabile Cantabile means singing, and is a sharp pinch. The bow is then lifted to prepare for musical direction to play in a singing vocal style. the next stroke. Cantata The term cantata means "to be sung" Comodo Comodo is Italian for a comfortable, (as opposed to sonata, an instrumental work leisurely and convenient tempo or speed, neither which means "to be played"). A cantata is a too fast nor too slow. vocal work with instrumental accompaniment. It Con Con means "with" or in a style expressive may be sacred or secular, and often contains of a certain quality. It is often used to modify sections such as solos, choruses, and another term such as con spirito, meaning to recitatives. play with a spirited style. Concerto An instrumental composition for solo bow strokes should be used for each note (it frequently accompanied by an orchestra. The does not mean detached or disconnected). sequence of the movements in a concerto Notes are of equal value, and are produced with generally is fast-slow-fast. an even, seamless stroke with no variation in Concerto grosso An instrumental concerto for pressure. Détaché lancé Détaché lancé is a variation of which play in contrast to the main body of the détaché bow stroke, and is a slightly instrumentalists or orchestra (called the ripieno separated bow stroke that gently articulates the or tutti). notes with an unaccented, distinct break Continuo Also known as basso continuo or between each note. It is often used in figured bass, the term continuo describes a bass combination with the louré or porté stroke to part in a composition, often with numbers over perform several separated notes in the same the notes to indicate harmonic intervals that bow. A combination of a line with a dot over or should be played above the bass line. During under it is often used to indicate this bowing. the Baroque period, the figured bass or continuo Diminuendo Diminuendo (dim.) means to was commonly used by a keyboard player such gradually become softer. The term decrescendo as a harpsichord to provide harmonic (decresc. or decr.) also means to become softer, accompaniments (a cello frequently played the continuo part along with the harpsichord). Détaché Détaché indicates a smooth, separate instrument(s), often in three movements, a small group of soloists (called the concertino), Crescendo Crescendo (cresc.) means to gradually become louder, and is indicated by the and is indicated by the sign: Divertimento Dolce Dolce is a direction to play sweetly, softly and gently. sign: Down bow The sign for down bow is and Da capo (D.C.) repeat from the beginning. indicates a downward stroke of the bow from Da segno (D.S.) repeat from the sign. frog to tip. D.C. al Coda means go back to the beginning of the piece, play to the "Coda" sign: , then jump Drone A drone is a continuous pitch, held for an extended time beneath the melody to serve as to the Coda section to finish the piece (Coda an aural reference point. In early music, drones means "tail," and refers to a concluding section generally were not notated in manuscripts, so of a piece). performers should use their judgment in using D.C. al Fine means go back to the beginning, them. In fiddle music, drones are often played as and end at the Fine marking (D.C. is an double stops, with the fiddler playing a drone on abbreviation for "da capo," and means "from the one string, while playing the melody on another. beginning" and Fine means "end"). Dynamics A term that indicates the degree of Glissando Glissando is an ornamental effect loudness or softness in music. When the notated by a wavy or straight line between two dynamic level is changed instantaneously, it is notes, indicating a continuous slide in pitch. called terraced or changed dynamics (this was Grace note A grace note is used to ornament a popular during the Baroque period). When the note, and is written in a small font indicating the Italian word "issimo" is added to a dynamic term, musician should quickly play the grace note, it means very, extremely, or as much as is then the note it is attached to (the grace note is possible. e.g. pianissimo means "as soft as is not part of the rhythmic value of the measure). possible" and fortissimo means "as loud as is possible." Fermata The sign under or over a note or Grandioso Play with majestic grandeur. rest indicates the note or rest should be held Grave Play in a slow and solemn manner. and prolonged at the discretion of the performer Harmonics Harmonics are overtones of the or conductor (this sign is also called a "hold" or string and produce soft flutelike sounds when by the nickname "bird’s eye"). the string is lightly touched at specific fractional First and second endings First and second divisions (nodal points). Natural harmonics are endings are repeat signs, and should be played produced on open strings, and artificial or as follows: play the first ending the first time stopped harmonics are produced on stopped through the music, repeat to the beginning of the section, then skip over the first ending and play strings. the second ending. Flat This symbol placed in front of a note to combined simultaneously. indicate the note to be played one half lower. Flautando Flautando is a bowing direction to version of the hornpipe was similar to the jig, but Forte Forte means loud, and is indicated by the with a different meter (often in 3/2). Composers marking: f frequently used the lively country dance rhythm Fortissimo Fortissimo means the music should of the hornpipe dance for movements in dance be very loud, and is indicated by the marking: ff indicated by the marking: fff suites and incidental theater music. Other Fortississimo Fortississimo means the music should be played as loudly as possible, and is Hornpipe A lively British dance, popular during the 16th–18th centuries. The country dance flutelike sound effect. Homophonic A form of musical texture with a melody and chordal accompaniment. bow slightly over the fingerboard to produce a Harmony Harmony is created when pitches are meters used are 2/4 and 4/4. Impressionism Impressionism began as an artistic movement, and was used to describe a Fuoco Fuoco means "Fire" and indicates the style of art which was designed to convey an musician should play with fire in a fiery, spirited impression rather than a literal depiction of the manner. scene. This term was applied to music, particularly to compositions written by French composers in the early 20th century such as Debussy and Ravel when they wrote music that pulsed legato notes executed in one bow stroke sought to convey subtle impressions, moods (it is also known as portato). and emotions through compositional techniques Maestoso Majestic and dignified. such as new chord combinations, sonorities and Marcato An Italian term which means marked harmonies, colorful instrumentation, and exotic scales. or accentuated. hammered. Each note is percussive, and spoken drama such as music composed for a commences with a sharp accent or "pinch" at play. Incidental music could be introducing a the beginning of the note, followed by a quick play (such as an overture), between acts (an release. Martelé may be notated in more than interlude), or as a supplement to spoken parts or one way: with dots, hammer heads or accents. other terms such as meno mosso (less rapid or stroke, the bow is thrown on the string, and then less motion). direction. The height and speed of the bounce are regulated through factors such as the and where the bow is initially thrown or placed. Mezzo piano Moderately soft. Mezzo piano is indicated by the marking: mp Mode Modes are often used to structure the Largamente Play with a large, broad and melody or tonality of a piece, and are comprised sustained tone. of notes arranged in a specific scale or pattern Larghetto Slightly faster than largo, larghetto is of intervals. a similarly broad, large and stately tempo and Mezzo forte Moderately loud. Mezzo forte is indicated by the marking: mf Dots above or under the notes may be used to indicate jeté. Meter The grouping of beats in stressed and unstressed patterns. amount of pressure used by the index finger, Meno Meno means less. It often is used with Jeté Jeté means "thrown" in French. In this bow bounces for several notes in the same bow Martelé Martelé is a French term meaning Incidental music Music supplementing a dramatic elements. Louré Louré strokes are a short series of gently Moderato Moderato means to play at a style. moderate tempo or speed. This term sometimes Largo A broad, slow tempo that is dignified and modifies others such as Allegro moderato, which stately in style. Largo is the slowest of tempo means moderately fast. markings. Modern Legato Legato indicates the notes should be Modo ordinario Modo means "manner" or smoothly connected, played either in one or "style" and ordinario means ordinary. Modo several bows. Slurs are often used to indicate ordinario means play in the ordinary way (often legato. used after an unusual way of playing such as col Lento Lento means slow in Italian (lent in legno). French). Lento and lent are both slow tempos in between largo and andante. Monophony Monophony is a musical texture Opera A musical form of drama, originating in for a single melodic line without any Italy, set to music. In an opera, most or all of the accompaniment or other melodic lines. text is sung, using musical forms such as arias, Mordent One trill, marked as songs, recitatives, duets, and choruses, with Mosso Mosso means moved. When used alone instrumental accompaniment. A few of the as a tempo term, the meaning of mosso is various subcategories of opera include heroic or similar to con moto: with motion. Mosso is grand opera, comedy opera and comic opera. sometimes used with other qualifying terms such Oratorio An oratorio is a large musical work, as piu mosso, meaning a little faster (more generally based on a sacred text or religious motion). topic, with soloists, chorus and orchestra. Motive A short melodic or rhythmic idea that Although many musical elements of an oratorio recurs throughout a musical composition. are similar to opera, no costumes, sets or acting Moto Moto means motion. It is often used with are used, and oratorios are usually performed as other terms such as con moto (with motion). a concert. Multiple stops, Double stop Multiple stops Orchestra describe chords played on a stringed Ordinario Ordinario or ord. means ordinary, instruments. For example, double stops describe and is used to indicate a return to ordinary playing notes simultaneously on two strings, and playing after playing a special effect such as col triple stops mean playing notes simultaneously legno or sul ponticello. on three strings. Ostinato Ostinato means "obstinate" in Italian. Muted A direction for the musician to play with a An ostinato is a short musical pattern, e.g. a mute. For string players, mutes are small clamps melodic, rhythmic or harmonic figure, of wood, metal, rubber, leather or plastic, which persistently repeated throughout a composition. fit onto the bridge and result in a softer, muted A melodic pattern set in the bass is called basso sound with a veiled quality. To mute something ostinato (and is also known as ground bass). is also indicated by the Italian term con sordino Phrase A musical idea or passage of music that or the German term mit dampfer. The terms arco is short, continuous and unbroken; similar to a (bow), via sordini (take off mute) and senza musical sentence. sordino (without mute) are used to indicate when the muted section ends and the musician should resume playing with a bow. Natural Cancels a sharp or flat Notation The writing down of musical notes and correct interpretation. Pianissimo Very soft. Pianissimo is indicated by the marking: pp symbols to represent pitch, rhythm, and melodies. Phrasing Referring to playing a passage with Pianississimo As soft as possible. Pianississimo is indicated by the marking: ppp Piano Soft. Piano is indicated by the marking: p Pitch Pitch is the relative "highness" or "lowness" of a sound when compared with other notes. It can also indicate an absolute fixed Rallentando Rallentando means gradually becoming slower. It also is abbreviated as rall. Recitative A speechlike, declamatory form of position in a range of musical notes (e.g. the singing used in vocal works such as operas, pitch "middle C"). oratorios, and cantatas. Recitatives are often Piu More. characterized by rhythmic freedom. Pizzicato Pizzicato (pizz.) is a term that means Religioso Play in a devotional or religious style. the string is plucked with the finger instead of Renaissance being bowed. Repeat Signs. A double bar with two dots is a Poco Poco means "little" or slightly. A poco a repeat marking, and indicates the music in poco means little by little or gradually. Poco between the repeat signs should be repeated. If modifies other terms when added to them such there is only one repeat sign with the dots facing as poco diminuendo, meaning to become to the left, go back to the beginning and play the slightly softer. entire section of music again (for more repeat Polyphony Polyphony is a form of musical sign variations, see Da capo, da segno, D.C. al texture with several interdependent, overlapping Fine, D.C. al Coda, and first and second melodic lines. endings). Portamento Portamento is an expressive device, and is a slide from one pitch to another. Requiem A Requiem Mass is a Mass for the dead. Portato See ‘Loure’ Prelude A prelude is a piece which often serves bow is dropped on the string and rebounds as a musical introduction or prelude to a larger (bounces) on the string for several notes in the musical work (it sometimes is a short, same bow direction. . independent instrumental piece in one movement). Presto A fast, rapid and lively tempo, faster Risoluto Resolutely; play in a resolute and decisive manner. Ritardando Gradually become slower and than allegro. slower (the same meaning as rallentando). Program music Instrumental music which Ritardando is often abbreviated as rit. represents extra-musical concepts such as emotions, scenes or events through the music, not through words. It is also sometimes called Ricochet Ricochet is a bow stroke where the Ritenuto Sudden or extreme slowing down than is implied by rall. And rit. Romantic Term used to describe music of the descriptive music. time period 1830-1900. Composers include Quasi Quasi means "as if," "almost," or Early Romantic: Beethoven, Mendelssohn, "nearly." It is often used to modify terms e.g. Schubert – Late Romantic Tchaikovsky, allegretto quasi andantino, meaning an Brahms, Dvorak, Elgar, Greig allegretto tempo almost at an andantino tempo. Rondeau A French musical term used during accented, and is usually attached to a single composition with a main section or theme which note or chord. It generally indicates the note alternates with subsidiary sections or themes. should be played loudly with a sudden, accented This musical form was later expanded during the emphasis, and is indicated by the marking: sfz Simile In a similar manner. Simile is often used Rondo. to indicate a passage of music should be Rubato Rubato means "robbed." It refers to a performed in the same manner as a preceding temporary robbing of time by either slowing or section. speeding the tempo or rhythmic value of notes in Sforzando Sforzando means forced or the Baroque era to describe a musical Classical era to become the musical form Slur A slur is a curved line grouping notes a passage of music. together, and means the notes included in the Sautillé Sautillé is a fast, bouncing or springing slur should be played in the same bow stroke in which the bow naturally bounces off of Unless otherwise indicated, notes in the slur the string, producing a lighter, more rapid, and should be played legato (smoothly). When slurs less percussive sound than spiccato. are used with dots over or under the notes, this Scale An ascending or descending indicates a slight separation should be used arrangement of pitches. between the notes (the terms slurred staccato or Scherzo The term scherzo literally means dotted slurs are often used to describe this "joke." In music, it is used to either describe an technique). When a slur is placed between two instrumental piece with a light, humorous notes with the same pitch, this is called a "tie" character, or the second or third movement of a and the two notes are played in one bow for the symphony or quartet (in place of the minuet). duration of both notes. Scherzos often have a quick triple meter, a . Sonata The word sonata comes from the Italian vigorous rhythm and a sharply contrasting word sonore, meaning "to be played" (as harmony. opposed to cantata, a vocal work which means Semplice Simply. Semplice means to perform "to be sung"). A sonata is an instrumental form in a simple, unadorned, natural manner. of music, and describes a multi-movement work Serenade for an instrument, often with piano Sharp This symbol # placed in front of a note to accompaniment. The term has had varied indicate the note is to be raised one half step meanings during different music eras, and Sinfonia Term used to describe an orchestra during the Baroque period, the trio sonata was on a smaller scale. Sometimes used as a title for one of the most popular forms of sonata (often works of Baroque composers like Vivaldi’s String for two violins and continuo). During the Sinfonias. Classical period, sonata came to mean a multi- Sinfonietta Term used to describe an orchestra movement work for a solo instrument with piano on a smaller scale. accompaniment, or piano alone. Sonata-Allegro form Sonata form is often used used in terms such as sul tasto (bow over or such as symphonies. It consists of an exposition near the fingerboard), sul ponticello (bow near section, followed by a development section, and the bridge), or sul G (play on the G string and concludes with a recapitulation. only the G string until otherwise indicated). In Spiccato Spiccato is an off-the-string, violin music, when only a specific string should controlled bouncing bow stroke which produces be used for particular passages, sul is a crisp sound and very short notes. It is the sometimes used with numerals such as sul IV to slowest of the bouncing strokes. Dots above or indicate only one string should be used (G, the under the notes may be used to indicate fourth string, is indicated by the numeral IV, A is spiccato. III, D is II and E is I). Staccato Staccato indicates the bow should Sul ponticello Sul ponticello is a bowing remain on the string to play shortened and direction to play with the bow near the bridge. detached notes, distinctly separate from The result is a glassy, whispery sound. Sul tasto Sul tasto is a bowing direction to bow with slurs (slurred staccato) for a series of short, over or near the fingerboard. The resulting stopped notes played in the same up or down sound is soft and flutelike (see flautando). bow (many violinists perform slurred staccato as Symphonic Poem A symphonic poem is a a series of slurred martelé strokes). programmatic orchestral work, often in one String Quartet A string quartet is a composition movement. It is also known as a tone poem. In a for four stringed instruments: two violins, a viola symphonic poem, extra musical ideas such as and a cello. String quartet music generally is emotions, scenes or events, are expressed composed in a multi-movement form. The term through the music, not through words. string quartet is also used to describe a Sul Sul means "on the" or "near the." Sul is in the first movement in multi-movement works successive notes. Staccato is sometimes used Symphony A symphony is an extended performance group comprised of four stringed composition for orchestra and is often comprised instruments. of three to five movements. Suite A suite may be described as a collection Syncopation Rhythmic patterns with of dances (dances from different European unexpected accents. Syncopation is generally countries), put together in an ordered manner. achieved by shifting the musical accent from a During the Baroque era, pieces in a suite were strong beat to a weak one. This results in an often dance forms such as: prelude, allemande, irregular feel to the rhythm. courante, saraband, gigue, bourre, gavotte, and Tempo Tempo means the rate of speed or minuet. After the Baroque era, suites were pace of the music. Tempo also may be used generally pieces extracted from a larger work with other qualifying words such as "a tempo," such as The Nutcracker Suite, a compilation of meaning return to the original tempo or speed. pieces taken from the ballet The Nutcracker. Various tempo markings are used to indicate directions for the rate of speed such as andante (moderately slow) and allegro (fast). Metronome markings are another way to specify even more Trill A trill ornaments a note, and is a rapid alternation between two pitches, usually a major or minor second above the note. The letters tr precisely the tempo of music e.g. = 60 means and a wavy symbol each quarter note should be played at the speed markings. Accidentals are often used to indicate of 60 quarter notes per minute. Tempo di valse Play the music at the rate of whether the trill is a major or minor trill. speed or pace of a waltz. non troppo, meaning, slow but not too slow. Tenuto Tenuto means the note(s) should be notes should be played, encircling the notated whole value. A line placed under or over the note (five notes total are played). The following note is usually used to indicate tenuto: _. Up bow The sign for up-bow is . and indicates an upward stroke of the bow from the point (or Theme & variations A composition with a tip) to the frog (or nut). Vibrato Vibrato for stringed instruments is Tie When a slur is placed between two notes similar to vocal vibrato—it is a slight and rapid with the same pitch, this is called a "tie" and the fluctuation in pitch, and is used to add warmth two notes are played in one bow for the duration and expression to music. There are three types of both notes. of vibrato: finger, hand, arm or a combination of Timbre Tone quality as referring to different all three. Many violinists use a combination of sound ‘types’. For ex. Staccato vs Legato or finger and hand vibrato. This type of vibrato is Cello vs Flute produced by a back and forth rolling motion of Time Signature A sign or fraction placed at the the finger and hand on the string, resulting in the beginning of a piece to show how many beats pitch being lowered and raised. Variations in the are in each measure. For example, a time width and speed of the vibrato can produce a signature of 3/4 indicates each measure wide range of expression. contains three quarter notes. motive. theme and variations of that theme. symbol for a turn is placed above the note: Theme A theme is the main musical subject of a composition such as a melody, phrase or short Turn Turns are ornaments mainly used in 17th19th century music, and generally indicate four played sustained or broadly, and held for its Troppo Troppo means "too much." It is often used to modify other terms such as Adagio ma Tempo I, Tempo Primo Revert back to the first tempo, or original tempo. Also A Tempo are used as trill Virtuoso Virtuoso means "exceptional Tone Term used referring to quality of sound performer" in Italian, and is used to describe a production. highly proficient, technically skilled performer. Tremolo Tremolo means rapidly repeating a When the descriptive term virtuosic playing is single note or chord (see bowing chart for more used, it generally means the performer is playing details). difficult music in a highly skilled manner. Vivace Lively and brisk. As a tempo marking, vivace is often considered slightly faster than allegro. Waltz A dance in triple meter which was very popular during the late eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Whole Bow Initials are sometimes used in music to indicate what part of the bow should be used: WB = Whole Bow; LH = Lower Half; UH = Upper Half; MB = Middle of the Bow. 20th Century Music written in the early 20th Century, composer include Sibelius, Elgar, Bartok, Vaughan Williams.