Music Theory

a tempo

return to the original tempo

accelerando

gradually getting faster

adagio

slowly

agitato

agitated

allargando

broadening

allegro

quickly

andante

walking tempo

brio

spirit, vigor

cantabile

in a singing style

con

with

crescendo

gradually getting louder

D.C.

return to the begining

dolce

sweetly

D.S.

return to the sign

decrescendo

gradually getting softer

espressivo

expressively

fine

end

forte

loud

fortissimo

very loud

giocoso

playful

grandioso

grand

grave

solemn

grazioso

graceful

largo

very slowly

legato

smooth, connected

leggiero

light

l'istesso

same

maesto

majestically

marcato

marked, accented

meno

less

mezzo

medium

moderato

moderately

molto

much

morendo

dying away

mosso

motion

moto

motion

pianissimo

very soft

piano

soft

piu

more

poco

little

poco a poco

little by little

presto

very quick

rallentando

gradually getting slower

ritardando

gradually getting slower

rubato

with freedom

sempre

always

sforzando

heavily accented, with force

simile

same

sordino

mute

staccato

detached

stringendo

gradually getting faster

subito

suddenly

tenuto

connected, full value

tranquillo

tranquil

tutti

all

vivace

lively