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Musical Terms and Dynamic Markings

CVIM section leader music terms list (for 2012-13 school year)

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173055004a capelladesignation for choral music without instrumental accompaniment
173055005a temporeturn to original tempo
173055006accelerandogradually increasing in tempo
173055007ad libitumat pleasure, freely
173055008adagioslowing, smoothly, gently
173055009agitatoagitated, excited
173055010al fineto the end
173055011alla breveas if in 2 beats per measure
173055012alla marciain the style of a march
173055013allargandogradually decreasing
173055014allegrettomoderately fast tempo, slower than allegro
173055015allegrofast tempo
173055016amorosoagreeable, tender, lovingly
173055017andantemoderately slow tempo
173055018andantinousually interpreted as meaning slightly faster than andante
173055019animatoanimated, spirited, brisk, buoyant
173055020appassionatawith passion
173055021assaimuch, very much
173055022attaccabegin the next section or movement immediately, without a break
173055023ben marcatowell marked
173055024bravuraspirit, dash, skill, flair
173055025brilliantesparkling, brilliant, glittering
173055026briovigor, spirit, animation
173055027cadenzaornamental unaccompanied passage, cadence
173055028calandosmorzando, dying away
173055029cantabilein a singing style
173055030capohead, beginning
173055031capricciosowhimsical, capricious
173055032codaliterally "tail" meaning the closing section of a work or movement
173055033col, coll, collawith the
173055034comeas, like
173055035conwith
173055036con fuocowith fire
173055037crescendogradually growing louder
173055038da capoD.C., meaning from the beginning to the end or place marked fine
173055039dal segnoD.S., from the sign
173055040decisodecisively, boldly
173055041decrescendo/diminuendogradually growing softer (de______/di_______)
173055042divisian instruction for one part or section to divide itself into two or more
173055043dolcesweet, soft, pleasant, mild, charming
173055044dolorososadly
173055045doppio meno mossohalf as fast (the m one)
173055046doppio movimentotwice as fast (the m one)
173055047doppio piu lentohalf as fast (the p one)
173055048doppio piu mossotwice as fast (the p one)
173055049expressivoexpressively, vividly
173055050fermatapause, hold
173055051ferocewild, fierce, savage
173055052fineend, closing
173055053fortef - loud, strong
173055054fortissimoff - very loud
173055055fortississimofff - loud as possible
173055056forte pianofp - loudly, immediately followed by soft
173055057forzandowith force
173055058forzatoaccent a single note or chord, forced
173055059fuocofire
173055060furiosofurious, violent
173055061giocosoplayful, humorous, frantic
173055062giustostrict, exact, precise
173055063gravesolemn, heavy, serious
173055064graziosograceful, charming, pretty
173080640il piu fortemost loudly
173080641il piu pianomost softly
173080642largamentebroadly
173080643larghettoslow, but faster than largo
173080644largoextremely slow, broad
173080645legatosmooth, connected
173080646leggierolight, delicate, nimble, quick
173080647lentoslow
173080648l'istesso tempothe same tempo
173080649ma non troppobut not too much
173080650maestosomajestic, stately, grand
173080651marcatomarked, accentuated, pronounced
173080652marciamarch
173080653marzialemartial, warlike
173080654menoless
173080655mezzohalf, middle; also moderately, as in _____ piano
173080656mezzo fortemf - moderately loud
173080657mezzo pianomp - moderately soft
173080658moderatomoderate tempo
173080659moltovery, greatly, well
173080660morendodying away
173080661motomotion
173080662nonnot, no
173080663non tropponot too much
173080664pesanteheavy, ponderous
173080665pianissimopp - very softly
173080666pianississimoppp - softly as possible
173080667pianop - softly
173080668piano assaivery softly
173080669piumore
173080670piu fortemore loudly
173080671piu pianomore softly
173080672poco a pocolittle by little
173080673prestissimoextremely fast
173080674prestovery fast
173080675prima/primofirst
173080676prima voltathe first time
173080677quasialmost, as if, nearly
173080678rallentandogradually slowing down
173080679risolutoresolute, energetic, determined
173080680ritardandorit., ritard., gradually slowing down
173080681scherzandojoking, playful
173080682scherzojoke, jest; movement in moderate or rapid tempo, usually light or mocking in tone
173080683segnosign
173080684sequefollow, continue indefinitely
173080685semprealways, ever
173080686senzawithout, free from
173080687sforzandosf, sfz - sudden strong accent
173080688similesimilar, in the same manner
173080689sostenutosustained
173080690sotto vocein a low, soft voice; quietly
173080691spiritosospirited, vivacious, jocular
173080692staccatodetached, short
173080693strettopressed, hurried
173080694stringendohastened, accelerating
173080695subitosudden, quick, at once, immediately
173080696tacetto be silent
173080697tempotime, speed of beat
173080698tempo primooriginal tempo
173080699tenutosustained, held
173080700tranquillotranquil, calm, quiet, peaceful
173080701tuttiall, whole
173080702un, una, unoone
173080703unisonsimultaneous performance of the same notes or melody by various instruments/voices, at exactly the same pitch or in a different octave
173080704vibratoa slight fluctuation of pitch produced to increase the emotional quality of the sound
173080705vigorosovigorous, robust
173080706vivacelively, vivacious
173080707vivolively, brisk, animated

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