Glossary of musical terms

Accent
An emphasis or “punch” at the beginning of a musical sound.

Adagio (Italian)
Meaning a slow tempo or slow speed. Sometimes it is the name of a work
like Mozart's Adagio for Violin and Orchestra.

Andante (Italian)
Meaning a walking tempo or walking pace; a moderate speed.

Bar/Measure
A specific number of musical sounds that are organized within a measure,
and that are contained within two solid lines called bar lines.

Beat/Pulse
Regular pattern within a bar or measure.

Cadenza (Italian)
An extended solo (played alone) for the soloist in a concerto. A cadenza can
also be a solo in an orchestral work for one or a group of instruments.

Chorale
Originally refers to a German Protestant hymn tune. In composition, it
typically means a choral composition for voices or instruments, such as a
Bach chorale. The word “Chorale” is also sometimes used as the name of a
choir or chorus.

Chord
When two or more notes or pitches are sounded simultaneously a chord is
created.

Concerto
A work for one performer or a group of performers with orchestral
accompaniment.

Crescendo (Italian)
Meaning growing, as in a swelling of sound, or becoming louder.
Decrescendo/Diminuendo (Italian)
Getting softer; the opposite of crescendo.

Dolce (Italian)
Meaning to be performed sweetly or delicately.

Downbeat
The first beat in a measure as conducted by the leader of an ensemble is
called the downbeat.

Ensemble
1) A group of musicians playing together like an orchestra or a string
quartet;
2) The actual act of playing as a unit, or performing together.

Fanfare
A musical work used as an announcement, often played by the brass section
of the orchestra or a single instrumentalist like a trumpet.

Fermata
A symbol that tells the performer to hold the note as long as s/he would like,
but certainly longer than the written note value.

Flat
When a flat symbol ♭ is added to a note it lowers the note by a half-
step. For example, if we have the note D and we add a flat to it the note now
becomes D-flat or D♭.

Form
The shape or organization of a musical composition.

Forte (Italian)
Loud or strong.

Fortissimo (Italian)
Louder than forte.

Half-step
A musical interval (as E-F or B-C) equivalent to 1⁄12 of an octave.
Harmony
The simultaneous combination of pitches, especially when blended into
chords that are pleasing to the ear.

Instrumentation
This can also be called orchestration when assigned to an orchestra. It is the
way a composer or arranger takes musical sounds and assigns them to
specific instruments.

Key
A group of pitches based on a particular tonic, and comprising a scale,
regarded as forming the tonal basis of a piece or section of music.

Larghetto (Italian)
Usually slightly faster than largo.

Largo (Italian)
Meaning wide, broad. In music a tempo marking meaning to be performed
quite slowly.

Major
This refers to a specific chord or key.
A. When it refers to a chord, then the chord has three musical pitches with the
space between the first and second pitches being four half steps, and the
distance between the second and third pitches being three half steps. A half
step is the smallest interval (space or distance) in traditional western classical
music. It is the distance from any key on the piano to the closest adjoining
key (white or black).

B. When major refers to a key, it is the central tonality upon which a work or
movement is constructed, and will usually use the same tonic chord as the
central or “destination” chord of the composition. For example, the
Schumann Symphony No. 3 is in the key of E-flat major, and the first and last
movements begin and end in the key of E-flat. Of course many keys and
chords are used throughout this five movement work, but the most prominent
one is E-flat.
Measure
A measurement of time in music that contains a specific number of pulses
defined by a time signature, and that is contained within bar lines.

Melody
An identifiable succession of musical sounds.

Minor
This refers to a specific chord or key.
A. When it refers to a chord the chord will have three different pitches. From
the first to the second pitch or note there are three half steps, and the distance
between the second and third pitch there are four half steps.

B. When minor refers to a key, it is the central tonality upon which a work or
movement is constructed, and will usually use the same tonic chord as the
central chord. For example, the first movement of Beethoven's 5th Symphony
is in c minor. The most prominent chord is a c minor chord and the central
pitch is a C. Of course many keys and chords are used throughout the
movement.

Molto vivace (Italian)

Very lively, or at a very quick speed.

Motif
An identifiable succession of musical sounds, but shorter than a complete
melody.

Movement
A large unit within a symphony or concerto. It usually is comprised of many
themes or musical ideas.

Notes
Symbols to represent sounds or pitches and duration of those sounds.

Octave
The interval between two musical notes, the upper one of which has twice the
pitch of the lower one. In a major or minor scale, the distance of this interval
lies eight steps* away, hence the term “octave.” (*in the major or minor
scales, the eight steps are actually a combination of “whole steps” and “half-
steps”)

Opus (Latin)
Meaning work. Work numbers are usually assigned by the composer. Often
the opus numbers are assigned in order of composition, but at times the
numbers are assigned by order of publication.

Pianissimo (Italian)
Softer than piano.

Piano (Italian)
Gently, soft.

Pitch
The frequency* of a note determining how high or low it sounds (*
“frequency” in this context is the number of complete oscillations per second
of energy as sound in the form of sound-waves).

Piu (Italian)
More. For example, piu piano would mean more softly.

Resolution
A group of chords can create harmonic tension. When this tension is released
with a calm chord, or a chord without tension, it is “resolved” and is thus
called a resolution.

Scale
An ordered succession of adjacent pitches, arranged in a sequence of whole
steps and half steps, for example the major or minor scales. A specific scale
is defined by its characteristic interval pattern and by its most prominent
pitch, known as its tonic.

Sempre (Italian)
Always. For example, sempre forte would mean always loud.

Sempre piu (Italian)

Always more.
Sforzando(Italian)
Forceful, usually accented.

Sharp
When a sharp symbol ♯ is added to a note it raises the note by a half-step. For
example, if we have the note G and we add a sharp to it the note now
becomes G-sharp, or G♯.

Solo
For one player (musician), or to be played alone. In an orchestral work it has
come to mean the important line or part for one player, while soli would be
the same for a group or section of players.

Step (or “whole step”)

A musical interval between pitches (such as C–D or C–B♭) comprising two
half steps.

Symphonic form
The structure of a work for large ensemble.

Tempo (Italian)
The rate of speed of a musical work.

Theme
The most important melody at any specific time in a musical work. There can
be one main theme in a work, or many themes.

Tonality
The organization of all the tones and harmonies of a piece of music in
relation to a tonic.

Tonic
A pitch that is the first degree of a major or minor scale and the tonal center
of a piece composed in a particular key.

Upbeat
The preparatory sign given prior to the first beat in a bar.
Musical forms[edit]
Italian term Literal translation Definition
Sung with no (instrumental) accompaniment, has lots of
A cappella in chapel style
harmonizing
Aria air Piece of music, usually for a singer
Aria di sorbetto sorbet air A lesser aria within an opera
Arietta little air A short or light aria
Arioso airy A type of solo vocal piece during an opera or operetta
Ballabile danceable (song) to be danced to
Battaglia battle An instrumental or vocal piece suggesting a battle
Bergamasca from Bergamo A peasant dance from Bergamo
Burletta a little joke A light comic or farcical opera
Cabaletta from copola (couplet) A two-part musical form
Cadenza falling A florid solo at the end of a performance
Cantata sung A piece for orchestra and singers
A lively piece, free in form, often used to show musical
Capriccio caprice
skill
small instrumental
Cavatina A simple melody or song
tone
Coda tail The end of a piece
A work for one or more solo instruments accompanied
Concerto concert
by an orchestra
Concertino little concert A short concerto; the solo instrument in a concerto
Concerto A Baroque form of concerto, with a group of solo
big concert
grosso instruments
Da capo aria from the head aria A three-section musical form
Dramma
jocular drama A form of opera
giocoso
Dramma per
drama for music Libretto
musica
Fantasia fantasy A musical composition or “idea” typified by improvisation
Farsa farce A one-act comical opera
festa teatrale theatrical party A genre of opera
Fioritura flowery A highly embellised vocal line
A short connecting instrumental movement – an
Intermedio intermediate
intermezzo
Intermezzo interval A short connecting instrumental movement
A work containing the words to an opera, musical, or
Libretto little book
ballet
Melodramma melodrama A style of opera
Opera work A drama set to music for singers and instrumentalists
Opera buffa humorous opera A comic opera
Opera semiseria semi-serious opera A variety of opera
Opera seria serious opera An opera with a serious, esp. classical theme
Operetta little opera A variety of light opera
Large musical composition for orchestra, choir, and
Oratorio oratory
soloists
A musical piece containing works by different
Pasticcio pastiche
composers
Ripieno padding concert A form of Baroque concerto with no solo parts
concerto
A song or composition in someone’s honour. Originally,
Serenata Serenade
a musical greeting performed for a lover
A musical cryptogram, using coded syllables as a basis
Soggetto cavato carved subject
for the composition
Sonata sounded A composition for one or two instruments in sonata form
A genre of operas with scenarios based on
Verismo realism
contemporary everyday life

Musical instruments[edit]
Piano(forte) soft-loud A keyboard instrument
Viola viola, orig. Latin vitulari "be joyful" A medium-sized stringed instrument
Small violone (violone means "big
(Violon)cello A large stringed instrument
viola")
Viola da
leg viola A stringed instrument held between the legs
gamba
Viola da A stringed instrument held in the arm, such as
arm viola
braccio a violin or viola
Viola d'amore love viola A tenor viol with no frets
Tuba tube A large brass instrument
Piccolo little A tiny woodwind instrument
Sordun deaf, dull in sound An archaic double-reed wind instrument
Timpani drums Large drums
Cornetto little horn An old woodwind instrument
A bell used in an orchestra;
Campana bell
also campane "bells"
orchestra, orig.
Orchestra An ensemble of instruments
Greek orkesthai "dance"

Voices[edit]
Soprano upper The highest vocal line
middle-
Mezzo-soprano Between soprano and alto
upper
Alto high Second-highest vocal line
Contralto against high Alto, esp. a female alto
Basso low Or "bass;" the lowest vocal line
deep and
Basso profondo A very deep bass voice
low
colouring
Coloratura soprano A soprano specialised in complex, ornamented melody
soprano
unlimited A soprano who has extended her upper range beyond the
Soprano sfogato
soprano usual range of a soprano
pushed A soprano whose voice, while normally of lyric weight and
Spinto soprano
soprano fluidity, can be pushed to a more forceful weight
Squillo ringing The resonant clarity of an operatic singer’s voice
A tenor voice capable of a slightly higher range of sustainable
Tenore contraltino '
notes than usual
Tenore di grazia or
' A lightweight, flexible tenor voice
‘’’Leggiero tenor’’’
Tessitura texture A singer’s comfortable range
Falsetto little false A vocal register immediately above the modal voice range
 Falsetto, sung using the usual techniques of modal voice
Falsettone '
register
A male singer, castrated so as to be able to sing soprano (now
Castrato castrated
sung by women, conventional countertenors, or sopranisti)
Musico musician Originally, a trained musician; later, a castrato or female singer
Spinto pushed A forceful voice, between the lyric and dramatic in weight
Passaggio crossing A vocal range

Tempo[edit]
Tempo time The speed of music e.g. 120 BPM
Grave solemn Slow and solemn, slower than largo
Largo broad Slow and dignified
Larghetto a little bit broad Not as slow as largo
Lentando slowing Becoming slower
Lento slow Slow
Tardo slow Slow
Adagio ad agio, at ease Slow, but not as slow as largo
Adagietto little adagio Faster than adagio; or a short adagio composition
Andante at a walking pace Moderately slow, flowing along
slightly faster than
Andantino slightly faster than andante
andante
Moderato moderately At a moderate speed
Allegretto a little bit joyful Slightly slower than allegro
Largamente broadly Slow and dignified
Mosso moved Agitated
Allegro joyful; lively and fast Moderately fast
A slowing of tempo, often accompanied by legato
Sostenuto sustained
playing
Fermata stopped Marks a note to be held or sustained
Presto ready Very fast
Prestissimo very ready Very very fast, as fast as possible
Accelerando accelerating Accelerating
Affrettando becoming hurried Accelerating
slowing and Slowing down and broadening, becoming more stately
Allargando
broadening and majestic, possibly louder
Ritardando slowing down Decelerating
becoming progressively
Rallentando Decelerating
slower
Rubato robbed Free flowing and exempt from steady rhythm
Tenuto sustained Holding or sustaining a single note
The accompaniment must follow the singer who can
Accompagnato accompanied
speed up or slow down at will
Alla marcia as a march In strict tempo at a marching pace (e.g. 120 bpm)
A tempo to time Return to previous tempo
L'istesso
Same speed At the same speed
tempo

Dynamics – volume[edit]
Calando quietening Becoming softer and slower
Crescendo growing Becoming louder
Decrescendo shrinking Becoming softer
Diminuendo dwindling Becoming softer
Forte strong Loud
Fortissimo very strong Very loud
Marcato marked A note played forcefully
Mezzo forte half-strong Moderately loud
Piano gentle Soft
Pianissimo very gentle Very soft
Mezzo piano half-gentle Moderately soft
Sforzando strained Sharply accented
in the manner
Stentato Loud, boisterous
of Stentor
Tremolo trembling A rapid repetitive variation in the volume (or pitch) of a tone
Messa di A style of singing involving changing volume while holding a
placing the voice
voce single note

Moods[edit]
Affettuoso with feeling Tenderly
Agitato agitated Excited and fast
Animato animated Animated
Brillante brilliant Brilliant, bright
Bruscamente brusquely Brusquely – abruptly
Cantabile singable In a singing style
Colossale colossal In a fashion which suggests immensity
Comodo convenient Comfortably, moderately
Con amore with love With love
Con fuoco with fire With fiery manner
Con brio with bright brightly
Con moto with movement With (audible) movement
Con spirito with spirit With spirit
Dolce sweetly Sweet
Espressivo expressive Expressively
Festoso happy With happiness
Furioso furious With passion
Grazioso graciously or gracefully With charm
Lacrimoso teary Tearfully, sadly
Maestoso majestic Stately
Misterioso mysterious Mysteriously, secretively, enigmatic
Pesante heavy Heavy, slowly, sadly
Risoluto resolved Resolved, decisive
Scherzando playfully Playfully
Sotto subdued Subdued
Semplicemente simply Simply
Slancio passion Enthusiasm
Vivace vivacious Up-tempo
Musical expression (general)[edit]
Molto very Used with other terms, such as molto allegro
Assai very Used with other terms, such as allegro assai
Più more Used with other terms, such as più mosso
Poco little "A little". Used with other terms, such as poco diminuendo
"little by little", "slowly but steadily". Used with other terms, such
poco a poco little by little
as poco a poco crescendo
ma non but not so
Used with other terms, such as adagio ma non tanto
tanto much
ma non but not too
Used with other terms, such as allegro ma non troppo
troppo much
Meno less Used with other terms, such as meno mosso
suddenly,
Subito Used with other terms, such as subito fortissimo
quickly

Patterns within the musical score[edit]

Lacuna gap A silent pause in a piece of music
A secondary passage of music which may be played in place of the
Ossia alternatively
original
Ostinato stubborn A repeated motif or phrase in a piece of music
Ritornello little return A recurring passage in a piece of Baroque music
Segue it follows A smooth movement from one passage to another with no pause
In a fugue, the repeating of a motif by a second voice before the first
Stretto tightened
rendition is completed
Pensato thought A composed imaginary note

Directions[edit]
Attacca attach Proceed to the next section without pause
Cambiare change Any change, such as to a new instrument
from the
Da Capo (al Abbreviated as D.C., informs the performer to go back to the
beginning (to
fine) beginning (capo) (finishing where the part is marked fine)
the end)
Abbreviated as D.S., informs the performer to repeat a specific
Dal Segno from the sign
section marked by a sign (segno)
Instructs one section to divide into two or more separate sections,
Divisi divided each playing a separate part. Often these separate parts are
written on the same staff.
Informs the player of alternative ways to play a passage.
Oppure otherwise
See Ossia.
solo alone A piece or performance to be played by a single musician

Techniques[edit]
Altissimo very high Very high
A chord with the notes spread out in time (rather than
Arpeggio harp-like
sounded simultaneously)
Acciaccatura crushing An extra, very fast grace note
Appoggiatura leaning A type of ornament that creates a "yearning" effect
Continuous bass accompaniment by chordal instrument(s)
Basso continuo continuous bass
and bass instrument(s) (see figured bass.)
A bocca chiusa mouth closed Wordless humming in a choral piece
Chiuso closed Calls for a horn to be muted by hand
Cancels col legno and pizzicato (in a string passage, arco is
Coll'arco with the bow usually expected, as it is the "default" approach, and is not
written except at the end of col legno or pizzicato passages.)
A note to accompanists to play with (in time with) the singer's
Colla voce with the voice
text, especially when slowing for textual effect
Calls for a bowed instrument's strings to be struck with the
Col legno with the wood wood of the bow rather having the hair of the bow drawn over
the strings
Coloratura coloration Elaborate ornamentation of a vocal line
A sweeping glide from one pitch to another used for dramatic
Glissando glide
effect
A series of notes played with a smooth connection between
Legato tied together
them
Martellato hammered Notes are strongly accented and detached
Con sordino with mute Calls for mute to be applied, esp. to string instruments.
Senza sordino without mute Calls for mute to be removed, esp. from string instruments.
Pizzicato plucked Calls for a bowed instrument to be plucked with the fingers
Portamento carrying A sliding of pitch between two notes
Portato carried A style of playing between staccato and legato
Sforzando using force Played with strong, marked emphasis
Coperti covered Of a drum, muted with a cloth
Una corda one string With the soft pedal, on a piano
With the soft pedal, on a piano. For why both terms exist,
Due corde two strings
see piano.
Tre Three
corde or tutte le strings or all the Cancels an una corda
corde strings
Playing a stringed instrument by bouncing the bow lightly on
Spiccato separated
the strings
A direction for the entire ensemble to play or sing, rather than
Tutti all
just a soloist or principal player
staccatissimo very detached Forcefully exaggerated staccato
A form of musical articulation in which notes are distinct and
Staccato detached
separated from each other by short gaps
Scordatura mistuning Alternate tuning (of strings)
vibrato vibrating A rapid repetitive variation or undulation in the pitch of a tone

Roles[edit]
Prima donna first lady Leading female role
Primo uomo first man Leading male role
A small music ensemble used as a supplement to the
Banda band
orchestra in an opera
con primario, with the
Comprimario A supporting role
first
The smaller, more virtuosic, group of musicians in
Concertino little concert
a concerto grosso
Coro choir An ensemble of singers
Diva female deity A leading female singer
Ripieno filling or stuffing The larger group of musicians in a concerto grosso
Convenienze conveniences The rules relating to the ranking of singers in opera

Criticism[edit]
Bel beautiful
Any fine singing, esp. that popular in 18th- and 19th-century Italian opera
canto voice
Bravura skill A performance of extraordinary virtuosity
A cry of congratulation to a male singer or performer. Fem. brava, pl. bravi,
Bravo skillful fem.pl. brave. The use of ! after "Bravo/a/i/e(!)" strongly emphasizes the
written expression.

Musical direction and staging[edit]

Conductor, music director, music teacher, also composer
Maestro Master, teacher
and other eminent musicians and singers
Maestro sostituto Deputy master Assistant conductor
Maestro Collaborating
Assistant conductor
collaboratore master
Maestro
Master prompter Prompter
suggeritore
A variety of formal organisation of players and crew in the
Stagione season
staging of opera

Musical Terms and Expressions Definitions

* Accelerando - tempo gradually gets faster

* Accidental - symbols such as sharps or flats and naturals that raise or lower
a pitch.

* Adagio - slow speed (not too slow)

* Allegro - fast tempo / speed

* Andante - play the music at a moderately slow speed.

* Bar Line - a vertical line on the staff to separate measures in a composition.

* Beam - a straight line connecting two or more notes such as eighth and
sixteenth notes.
* Beat - a musical pulse or unit of time / the steady pulse of music.

* Chord - a combination of three or more notes sounding at the same time /

multiple notes sounding simultaneously (Ex. A C Major chord may consist of
the notes C-E-G.)

* Clef - a symbol placed at the beginning of the staff to indicate names of lines
and spaces.

* Conductor - the director of a group of musicians.

* Crescendo - gradually get louder

* Decrescendo - gradually get softer

* Dot - a small symbol placed to the right of a note that increases the duration
of the note by one half.

* Dynamics - symbols that indicate a change in volume of a song. (The

students played the music louder and softer, as indicated by the dynamics
written on the music.)

* Enharmonic - Two notes that sound the same but are spelled differently.

* Fermata - a pause in the music, indicated by a curved arc and a dot (see
below).

* Flat - a symbol written to the left of a note that lowers the pitch by a half
step.
* Forte - loud. (The percussion section saw the forte mark on their music and
played the music with a booming sound.)

* Half Step - the distance between one key and the next adjacent white or
black key on a keyboard.

Interval - the difference in pitch between two notes.

* Largo - slow and stately

* Ledger Line - a small line written above or below the staff to extend the
range of notation.

* Legato - playing notes in a smooth, connected manner.

* Measure - the space between one bar line and the next.

* Moderato - medium tempo / speed

* Octave - the interval between two adjacent notes of the same name.

* Orchestra - a large group of instrumentalists consisting of woodwind, brass,

string and percussion sections.

* Pentatonic - a scale having five tones to the octave, usually avoiding half
steps.
(The students played a song on the xylophone using the notes C,D,E,G, and
A from the pentatonic scale.)
* Phrase - a complete musical thought.

* Piano - soft

* Pizzicato - pluck strings instead of bowing

* Presto - very fast tempo or speed

* Recorder - an end-blown flute-like instrument that has a whistle mouthpiece,

available in soprano, alto, tenor and bass. (The teacher told the students to
play the recorder by blowing more softly.)

* Refrain - the melody of a song that is repeated after each verse. (After
singing the second verse of the song, the chorus sang the refrain.)

* Repeat Sign - a sign that indicates a section of music to be played again.

(The clarinet players had to go back and play measures 5-13 again when they
got to the repeat sign.)

* Rest - a symbol used to indicate silence in music.

* Sharp - a symbol written to the left of a note that raises the pitch by a half
step.

* Slur - a curved line connecting two or more different notes, indicating to play
the music smoothly.

* Staccato - a dot over or under notes that indicate playing the music short
and detached. (The students were told to play the notes with a more staccato
sound because they were making each note sound too long.)
* Staff - horizontal lines on which notes are written. The musical staff has five
lines and four spaces.

* Syncopation - a rhythm accented on notes that are not usually stressed.

* Tempo - the speed of a composition. (The director told the students to play
the song at a faster tempo.)

* Tie - a curved line connecting two notes indicated to play them as a single
note.

* Vivace - lively and quick tempo

* Whole Step - A whole step is equal to two half steps. (Examples - C to D is a

whole step. E to F Sharp is a whole step.)