Musical Definitions

Terms relating to Tempo

GRAVE - Very slow and solemn
LARGO - Very slow and broad, with dignity
LENT or LENTO - Very slow
ADAGIO - Very slow and expressive
LARGHETTO - Not as slow as LARGO, but slower than ANDANTE
ANDANTE - Rather slow, but with a flowing movement ("Walking tempo")
ANDANTINO - A little quicker than ANDANTE
MODERATO - Moderate speed- not fast, not slow
ALLEGRETTO - Light and cheerful, but not as fast as ALLEGRO
ALLEGRO - "Merry", quick, lively, bright
VIVO - Lively, brisk (usually with ALLEGRO, as ALLEGRO VIVO
VIVACE - Vivacious, faster than ALLEGRO
PRESTO - Very quick, faster than VIVACE

Change of Tempo

ACCELERANDO - Abbreviated: accel. To increase the speed gradually
STRINGENDO - Abbreviated: string. To increase intensity by increasing tempo
AFFRETTANDO - To increase the speed gradually
ALLARGANDO - Abbreviated: allarg. Slower and louder
RITARDANDO - Abbreviated: Ritard. or Rit. Gradually slackening the speed.
RALLENTANDO - Abbreviated: Rall. Slowing down, gradually.
RUBATO - Literally means "Robbed"- a lingering on some notes and hurrying of others; free from strict tempo, but preserving the value of the rhythmic notation.
A TEMPO - Return to original tempo after a RITARD
TEMPO I (PRIMO) - Return to original tempo after a RITARD

Words that accompany Tempo markings

MOLTO - Very much; e.g., MOLTO RITARD means to slow down exceedingly
MENO - Less; e.g., MENO MOSSO means less fast (slower)
PIU - More
NON TROPPO - Not too much, e.g., ALLEGRO NON TROPPO means fast, but not too fast
POCO A POCO - literally "little by little". Used in combination with tempo markings. e.g., ACCEL. POCO A POCO means to increase the speed gradually over a span of measures.

Dynamics

PIANISSIMO - (abbr: pp). Very soft
PIANO - (abbr: p). Soft
MEZZO - Medium or moderately
MEZZO PIANO - (abbr: mp). Medium soft
MEZZO FORTE - (abbr: mf). Moderately loud
FORTE - (abbr: f). Loud
FORTISSIMO - (abbr: ff) Very loud
DIMINUENDO - (abbr: dim.) or the sign means gradually getting softer
CRESCENDO - (abbr: cresc.) or the sign means gradually getting louder
POCO A POCO - "Little by little". Indicates a gradual increase or decrease in volume of sound; e.g., CRESC> POCO A POCO means to increase the volume gradually.
ACCENT - A stress on notes so marked
SFORZANDO - (abbr: sfz) A strongly accented note or chord
SFORZATO - (abbr: sfp) strongly accented by then immediately PIANO
SUBITO - Suddenly. Usually to indicate a dramatically sudden change in dynamic level of sound; e.g., from pp to SUBITO ff.

Styles

AGITATO - With agitation- excitedly
ALLA - In the style of (always used with other words) e.g., ALLA MARCIA- in the style of a march.
CON - With (as a connecting word), e.g., ANDANTE CON AMORE- slowly, with tenderness
ANIMATO - With animation, in a spirited manner
APPASSIONATO - With intensity and depth of feeling
BRILLANTE - Bright, sparkling, brilliant
BRIO - Vigor, spirit
CANTABILE - In a singing style
DOLCE - Sweetly and softly
ENERGICO, CON - With expression
FUOCO, CON - With fire or much energy
GRANDIOSO - In a noble, elevated style
GRAZIA, CON - With a graceful, flowing style
LEGATO - Smooth and connected, in a flowing manner (Opposite of STACCATO)
MAESTOSO - With majesty and grandeur
MARCATO - In a marked and emphatic style
PESANTE - Heavily, every note with marked emphasis
QUASI - In the manner of; e.g., QUASI UNA FANTASIA- in the style of a fantasia
SCHERZANDO - In a light playful and sportive manner
SCHERZO - A jest, one of the movements of certain symphonies, a composition of light and playful character.
SECCO - Dry, plain, without ornamentation
SEMPRE - Always; e.g., SEMPRE STACCATO- to continue playing in a short and detached style
SPIRITO, CON - With spirit, or animation
STACCATO - Short and detached, with distinct precision (the opposite of LEGATO)
TENUTO - Sustained for the full time-value
TRANQUILLO - With tranquility, quietly, restfully

Tempo and Style

LARGO MA NON TROPPO - Slow, but not too slow (ma = but)
ADAGIO CANTABILE E SOSTENUTO - ('e' = and) Very slow and in a sustained and singing style
ANDANTINO, CON AFFETUOSO - Faster than ANDANTE, with tender feeling
ALLEGRETTO CON GRAZIA - A moving tempo with a graceful flowing style
ALLEGRO AGITATO - Quick with agitation
POCO PIU MOSSO - A little quicker
ALLEGRO CON MOLTO SPIRITO - Fast with much spirit
ANDANTE MAESTOSO - Rather slow-moving tempo, majestic feeling
PRESTO CON LEGGIEREZZA - Very fast with lightness and delicacy

Misc. Terms

ACCIDENTALS - Flats and double flats, naturals, sharps and double sharps
ALLA BREVE - "Cut time" The half-note is the unit of the meter
ARPEGGIO - A broken chord (Each note of the chord played in succession)
ATTACCA - Begin the next movement immediately
CADENCE - The close or ending of a phrase
CADENZA - An elaborate solo passage with fancy embellishments to display the proficiency of a performer.
CHROMATIC - Proceeding by semitones
CODA - Literally "A tail"- the closing measures of a piece of music
CON - With; e.g., CON SORDINO means "with mute"
DA CAPO - (abbr: D.C.) from the beginning
DAL SEGNO - (abbr: D.S.) to the sign
DIVISI - Divided, one performer plays the upper notes, the other plays the lower notes
FERMATA - A pause, marked
FINE - The end
G.P. - General Pause; a dramatic moment of silence for the entire ensemble
SEGUE - To the next piece without pause
SENZA - Without; e.g., SENZA SORDINO means without mute
SORDINO - A mute (used by brass and string players)
TACET - Be silent
TEMPO PRIMO - (Sometimes TEMPO I), means to return to the original tempo after a RITARD or ACCEL.
V.S. - Abbreviation found at the lower right corner of a music page, which stands for "Volti-subito" and means to turn the page quickly.
COL LEGNO - Applies to string instruments. Bowing or tapping the string with the wood of the bow instead of the hair.
GLISSANDO - To slide. Pulling or drawing the finger quickly up or down a series of adjacent notes. Also poss. on trombone and other inst.