AA Absolute Absolute music. Music which is inspired by itself rather

than extramusical implications such as the stories legends of "program" music.

A Cappella Without accompaniment. Accelerando Gradually faster; a term in general use to show that the

music should be played at an increasing speed. Adagio Slowly; slower than andante, faster than largo; a musical

composition in adagio tempo; a difficult ballet duet or trio. Adagietto is a little faster than adagio.

Adagietto Slow, but a little faster than Adagio. Addolorato Sorrowfully. Ad libitum A term which permits the performer to vary the tempo

and/or to include or omit a vocal or instrumental part. Affrettando Hurrying. Agilmente Lively. Agitato In a restless and agitated manner. Air (aria) The chief voice part or melody in choral music.Aleatory Improvisation or random in character. Allargando Gradual slowing of tempo, with increasing volume; most

frequently occurs toward the end of a piece. Allegretto Fast, but not as fast as Allegro. Allegro Fast, though not as fast as vivace or presto. Allemande A German dance in 4/4 time, often the 1st dance in a

baroque dance suite. Andante A moderate tempo or tempo at a walking pace. Andantino Can be a little faster or slower than Andante, usually meant

to be a little faster. Animato With animation Anthem A short vocal composition. Appassionato With passion Arabesque A short decorative piano piece. Arpeggio Describing notes in a chord played individually (one after

another) as opposed to simultaneously. Arrangement An adaption of a composition. Atonality Lacking a tonal center; not in a specific key and therefore

has no specific 'home' note or chord. The word atonality refers technically to various forms of 20th century music not in a key.

BB Badiniere A piece of music with a light-hearted character.

Barcarolle A boating-song, generally used to describe the boating songs of gondoliers in Venice, imitated by composers in songs and instrumental pieces

Baroque The period of musical history from 1600 - 1750.Berceuse A berceuse is a cradle-song or lullaby, in lilting triple or

compound time.Bourree A French dance from the 17th century in brisk duple time

starting with a pickup; a musical composition with the rhythm of this dance.

CC Cadence A cadence usually consists of two chords that provide

musical punctuation at the end of phrases or sentences. Cadenza A solo passage, either written by the composer or

improvised by the performer, preceding the capitulation of the piece.

Camminando Following easily and gently.

Canon Two or more parts that have the same melody but start at different points.

Cantabile At a walking speed and in singing style. Cantata Baroque sacred or secular choral composition of some

length, containing solos, duets, and choruses, with or without orchestral or keyboard accompaniment.

Caprice/Capriccio

A fugal composition; dances or dance suites or any composition that allows a relatively free play of fancy.

Carol A song of praise and celebration, usually for Christmas. Cassation describes a piece of music akin to a divertimento or

serenade, music intended primarily for entertainment. Chamber music Music for a small ensemble of instruments, intended for

performance in a room or chamber, as opposed to a church or larger building.

Chanson A French song; originally, songs from troubadour compositions of the Middle ages.

Chorale Hymn-like song, characterized by blocked chords.Chord A combination of three or more tones sounded

simultaneously. Classical Music composed primarily during the period 1770 - 1825.Coda The closing section of a composition; an added ending. Coloratura Used to describe vocal music that is extensively

ornamented and calls for ability in a very high register. Composer A person who creates (composes) music. Con brio With spirit; vigorously. Con calore With warmth. Concert A public performance of music. Concertante A concertante is a part that calls for some element of solo

performance, as in a classical concerto. Concertino A short concerto; the small group of solo instruments used

in a concerto grosso Concert master The first chair violinist in an orchestra. Concerto A piece of instrumental music that contrasts a solo

instrument or a small group of solo instruments with the main body of the orchestra.

Con intensita With intensity. Con moto With motion. Consort Indicates a group of like instruments; the music written for

it. Con spirito With spirit. Countermelody A vocal part which contrasts with the principal melody. Courante A triple-time dance movement found frequently in the

baroque dance suite; generally follows the allemandeCrescendo Gradually rising in volume.

DD Decrescendo Gradually lower in volume; synonymous with diminuendo.

Delicato Delicately.Diminuendo Gradually lower in volume; synonymous with decrescendo.Dirge A very slow piece that is usually performed at a funeral or

memorial service.Divertimento A divertimento is an instrumental composition intended for

entertainment, usually in a number of movements.Divertissement Indicates the additional dance entertainment that is often a

part of classical ballet.Divisi An indication of divided musical parts.Dolce Sweetly; dolcissimo is very sweetly.Doloroso Sadly; mournfully.Down beat The first beat; given by the conductor with a downward

stroke.Dynamics Varying degrees of loud and soft.

EE Elegy A lament, either vocal or instrumental.

Encore To repeat a piece or play an additional piece at the end of a performance.

Entr'acte The music between acts of an opera or play.

Espressivo Expressively.Esuberante Exuberant.Etude Originally a study, intended for the technical practice of the

player. Later, elevated the into a significant piece of music, no mere exercise.

Exposition The first section of the movement, in which the principal thematic material is announced; in a fugue, the voices or parts enter one by one with the same subject: the exposition ends when all the voices have entered.

FF Fanfare A prelude or opening; a flourish; usually played by brass

instruments.Fermata Hold; pause .Festivo, festoso Festive; merry.Finale The last movement of a symphony or sonata; the last

selection of an opera.Fine The end.(La) Follia A well known dance tune popular from the 16th century or

earlier and found in the work of composers.Forte LoudFortissimo Very loudFugue A musical composition in which one or 2 themes are

repeated or imitated by successively entering voices/instruments and developed in a continuous interweaving of the parts.

Full score An instrumental score in which all the parts for the instruments appear on their own staves in standard instrumental family order.

GG Galliard A courtly dance of the late 16th and early 17th century

often found in instrumental compositions of the period, sometimes in suites.

Gigue The gigue became the accepted final dance in the baroque instrumental suite.

Giocoso Playful.Giubilante Exultant; jubilant.Glissando Used to describe sliding in music from one note to another.Grandioso Grandiose; majestic.Grand pause A rest for the entire ensemble.Grave Slow; solemn.Grazia Grace; Con grazia - with grace.Grazioso Graceful.Gregorian Chant The modal chant of early Christian and continuing Catholic

worship and its derivativesGrosso Great; large.

HH Habanera A Cuban dance from Havana, later introduced to Spain.

Harmony The sounding of two or more tones simultaneously; the vertical aspect of music.

Hymn A song of praiseI

I Impressionism A musical movement of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Inspired by the French impressionist painters, the movement had its impetus in the music of Debussy and Ravel.

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L Lacrimoso Tearful; mournful.Lament Dirge; a slow mornful piece.Lamento Mournful; sad.Landler The Ländler is an Austrian country dance in a slow

triple metre, a precursor of the waltz.Langsam Slow.Largamente Broadly.Larghetto Slower than largo.

Largo Very slow.Legato Smooth; connected.Leggiero Light; graceful.Lento Slow; slightly faster than largo, slower than adagio.Liberamento Freely.Lied Indicates songs in the great German tradition of song-

writing.Linear Melodic; horizontal lines.L'istesso tempo An instruction to the player to return to the previous speed

of the music.Loure A French dance of the 17th and 18th centuries; it has been

described as a slow gigue.M

M Madrigal Originally a form of vocal composition of 14th century Italy; a favourite form of part-song, stemming first from Italy.

Maestoso Suggests a majestic manner of performance, either in mood or speed.

Magnificat The Magnificat is the canticle drawn from the biblical words attributed to the Mother of Christ

Malaguena A Spanish dance from the region of Málaga; later used to indicate a form of Spanish gypsy song.

Mancando Fading awayMarcato Emphasized; heavily accented.Mazurka A Polish dance, transformed by Chopin in some fifty piano

pieces in this form.Measure A group of beats containing a primary accent and one or

more secondary accents, indicated by the placement of bar lines on the staff; the space between two bar lines.

Medesimo The same.Medieval The period prior to the Renaissance, c. 500 - 1450,

marking the music of the early Christian church.Melodie The French art- songs of the 19th and 20th centuries are

known as mélodies

Melody In general, a succession of musical tones. It represents the linear or horizontal aspect of music.

Meno Less.Meno mosso Less motion.Mesto SadMezzo Half; mediumMezzo forte Medium loud.Mezzo piano Medium soft.Middle Ages European historical period between roughly A.D. 500 and

1450.Minuet A triple metre French dance popular from the second half

of the 17th until at least the end of the 18th century.Missa Originally the Catholic Mass or Eucharist; later came to be

used on occasion for settings that included only the first two parts of the ordinary of the Mass, the Kyrie and the Gloria.

Misterioso Mysteriously.Mit WithModerato Moderate speed.Modern Music written in the 20th century; contempory music.Molto Very; used with other terms, e.g. molto allegro.Morendo Gradually decreasing in volume; fading away.Mosso Rapid; meno mosso - less rapid; piu mosso - more rapid.Motive A short melodic or rhythmic pattern.Motet A choral composition for a church, without necessarily

using text from the liturgy.Motif A group of notes that has a recognisable thematic

characterMoto Motion; con moto - with motion.Movement A section of a larger piece that usually is in itself a

complete work.Mute Usually an attachment used to dampen the sound of an

instrument.N

N Nach After (as "in the manner of"); behind.Nachtmusik Night music; a serenade.Neoclassic A musical style from the 20th century indicating the return

to styles from earlier periods (e.g. romantic, baroque).Nocturne A night-piece; music that evokes a nocturnal mood.Nonet A composition for nine performersNon troppo Not too much; used with other terms (e.g. non troppo

allegro - not too fast)Note The symbol which, when placed on a staff with a particular

clef sign, indicates pitch.Nuance Subtle variations in tempo, phrasing, dynamics, etc., to

enhance a musical performance.O

O Obbligato Indicates an additional instrumental part that cannot be omitted.

Octave The eighth tone above a given pitch, with twice as many vibrations per second, or below a given pitch, with half as many vibrations.

Octet A piece for eight instruments or voices.Opera Bouffe/Buffe

A comic operetta

Opera Seria A serious opera governed by strict rules as to subject and structure.

Operetta A light opera.Opus/Op Meaning work, is used by composers to show the

chronological order of their works; however is not necessarily accurate.

Oratorio A work in which religious texts often with a narrative content are set for performance by singers and instruments.

Orchestra A large group of musicians made up of string, brass,

woodwind, and percussion instruments.Orchestration The art of writing, arranging, or scoring for the orchestra.Ornaments Melodic embellishments, either written or improvised.Ossia "Or." Indicating an alternative passage or version.Ostinato A part that repeats the same rhythm or melodic element.Ottava Octave.Ottava alta An octave higher.Ottave bassa An octave lower.Overtones The almost inaudible higher tones which occur with the

fundamental tone. They are the result of the vibration of small sections of a string (instrument) or a column of air. Other general terms for overtones are partials and harmonics.

Overture An introductory piece, often designed to initiate an opera or other dramatic work.