There are many Latin terms used in music to show how a piece of music is to be performed. Some of these terminologies are arranged under various groups as shown below.
Tempo
| Tempo | time | The speed of music e.g. 120 BPM |
| Grave | solemn | Slow and solemn, slower than largo |
| Largo | broad | Slow and dignified |
| Larghetto | a little bit broad | Not as slow as largo |
| Lentando | slowing | Becoming slower |
| Lento | slow | Slow |
| Adagio | ad agio, at ease | Slow, but not as slow as largo |
| Adagietto | little adagio | Faster than adagio; or a short adagio composition |
| Andante | walking | Moderately slow, flowing along |
| Moderato | moderately | At a moderate speed |
| Allegretto | a little bit joyful | Slightly slower than allegro |
| Largamente | broadly | Slow and dignified |
| Mosso | moved | Agitated |
| Allegro | joyful; lively and fast | Moderately fast |
| Sostenuto | sustained | A slowing of tempo, often accompanied by legato playing |
| Fermata | stopped | Marks a note to be held or sustained |
| Presto | ready | Very fast |
| Prestissimo | very ready | Very very fast, as fast as possible |
| Accelerando | accelerating | Accelerating |
| Affrettando | becoming hurried | Accelerating |
| Allargando | slowing and broadening | Slowing down and broadening, becoming more stately and majestic, possibly louder |
| Ritardando | slowing | Decelerating |
| Rallentando | becoming progressively slower | Decelerating |
| Rubato | robbed | Free flowing and exempt from steady rhythm |
| Tenuto | sustained | Holding or sustaining a single note |
| Accompagnato | accompanied | The accompaniment must follow the singer who can speed up or slow down at will |
| Alla marcia | as a march | In strict tempo at a marching pace (e.g. 120 bpm) |
| A tempo | to time | Return to previous tempo |
| L’istesso tempo | Same speed | At the same speed |
Dynamics
| Calando | quietening | Becoming softer and slower |
| Crescendo | growing | Becoming louder |
| Decrescendo | shrinking | Becoming softer |
| Diminuendo | dwindling | Becoming softer |
| Forte | strong | Loud |
| Fortissimo | very strong | Very loud |
| Marcato | marked | a note played forcefully |
| Mezzo forte | half-strong | Moderately loud |
| Piano | gentle | Soft |
| Pianissimo | very gentle | Very soft |
| Mezzo piano | half-gentle | Moderately soft |
| Sforzando | strained | Sharply accented |
| Stentato | in the manner of Stentor | Loud, boisterous |
| Tremolo | trembling | A rapid repetitive variation in the volume (or pitch) of a tone |
| Messa di voce | placing the voice | a style of singing involving changing volume while holding a single note |
Moods
| Affettuoso | with feeling | Tenderly |
| Agitato | agitated | Excited and fast |
| Animato | animated | Animated |
| Brillante | brilliant | Brilliant, bright |
| Bruscamente | brusquely | Brusquely – abruptly |
| Cantabile | singable | In a singing style |
| Colossale | colossal | in a fashion which suggests immensity |
You can download the rest musical terms
Compiled by : Nnaemeka Alumona
Phone : 0803 9572823
Email : emyaums@gmail.com
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