A Ballata |
In the style of a simple dance. |
Absolute |
Absolute music. Music which is inspired by itself rather than extramusical implications such as the stories legends of "program" music. |
Accelerando, accel |
Gradually faster. |
Accent |
placed above a note to indicate stress or emphasis |
Accidental |
A sharp, flat, or natural not included in the given key. |
Accompaniment |
A vocal or instrument part that supports or is background for a solo part. |
Adagio |
Slow; slower than andante, faster than largo. |
Addolorato |
Sorrowfully. |
Ad libitum, ad lib |
A term which permits the performer to vary the tempo and/or to include or omit a vocal or instrumental part. Synonymous with a piacere. |
A due |
Return to unison after divisi. |
Affrettando |
Hurrying. |
Agilmente |
Lively. |
Agitato |
Agitated; with excitement. |
Al, all', alla, alle |
To; used with other words, e.g. al Fine (to the end). |
Album |
A full length recording. In pop music, it contains a number of songs. |
Al coda |
"To the coda." |
Aleatory or aleatoric music |
- Chance music in which the performers are free to perform their own material and/or their own manner of presentation. |
Al fine |
To the end. |
Alla breve |
Cut time; meter in which there are two beats in each measure and a half note receives one beat. |
Allargando, allarg |
Slowing of tempo, usually with increasing volume; most frequently occurs toward the end of a piece. |
Allegretto |
Slower than allegro. |
Allegro |
Quick tempo; cheerful. |
Al segno |
Return to the sign, Dal segno. |
Alteration |
The raising or lowering of a note by means of an accidental. |
Alto clef |
The C clef falling on the third line of the staff. Most of the time is used by the viola. |
Ancora |
Repeat. |
Andante |
Moderate tempo. |
Andantino |
Slightly faster than andante. |
A niente |
To nothing, e.g. to ppp. |
Animato |
Animated; lively. |
A piacere |
Freedom in performance. Synonymous with ad libitum. |
Appassionato |
Impassioned. |
Appoggiatura |
A nonharmonic tone, usually a half or whole step above the harmonic tone, which is performed on the beat and then resolved. |
Arabesque |
A fanciful piano piece. Ornate passage varying or accompanying a theme. |
Arpeggio |
A term used to describe the pitches of a chord as they are sung or played one after the other, rather than simultaneously. |
Arrache |
Strong pizzicato. |
Arrangement |
An adaption of a composition. |
Articulation |
The degree to which notes are separated or connected, such as staccato or legato. |
A tempo |
Return to the previous tempo. |
Atonality |
Lacking a tonal center. |
Augmentation |
Compositional technique in which a melodic line is repeated in longer note values. The opposite of diminution. |
Augmented |
The term for a major or perfect interval which has been enlarged by one half-step, e.g. c-g, (an augmented fifth,) or c-d, (an augmented second). Also used for a triad with an augmented fifth, e.g. the augmented tonic triad in C major, |