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Musical Terminology
South Dakota American Chorl Directors Association Music Terms
111
Music
10th Grade
04/25/2013
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Term
A capella
 Definition
Choral music generally without accompaniment; literally - in the style of the chapel.
Term
Accelerando (Accel.) or Stringendo (String.)
 Definition
Gradually growing faster
Term
Accent
 Definition
Emphasis or stress o one tone over others
Term
Ad libitum (Ad lib.) or A placere
 Definition
at pleasure; at will
Term
Alla Breve
 Definition
Indicating 2/2 time or "cut time"; literally - on the breve (half note)
Term
Animato
 Definition
Animated; excited; with life and spirit
Term
A tempo
 Definition
Return to the original tempo
Term
Bravura
 Definition
Great technical skill, virtuosity
Term
Caesure (//)
 Definition
A break in the music
Term
Cantabile
 Definition
In a singing (lyric) style
Term
Coda
 Definition
A section added at the end of a composition or passage as a conclusion
Term
Con
 Definition
With
Term
Con anima
 Definition
With animation
Term
Con Forza
 Definition
With force
Term
Con Spirito
 Definition
With spirit, lively
Term
Crescendo
 Definition
Increase in volume
Term
Da capo (D.C.)
 Definition
to return and perform from the beginning
Term
Del Segno (D.S.)
 Definition
To return and perform from the sign
Term
Decrescendo
 Definition
Becoming softer
Term
Diminuendo
 Definition
Gradually become softer
Term
Diatonic
 Definition
Pertaining to the notes of a major or minor scale
Term
Dissonance
 Definition
A relation of state of tension between various tones
Term
Divisi
 Definition
To divide; as into parts
Term
Dolce
 Definition
Sweetly
Term
Double flat(bb)
 Definition
Lower the tone one full step
Term
Double Sharp (x)
 Definition
Raise the tone one full step
Term
Dynamics
 Definition
The level (amplitude) or loudness of sound
Term
Pianissimo (pp)
 Definition
Very Soft
Term
Piano (p)
 Definition
Soft
Term
Mezzo Piano (mp)
 Definition
Medium soft
Term
Mezzo Forte (mf)
 Definition
Medium loud
Term
Forte (f)
 Definition
Loud
Term
Fortissimo (ff)
 Definition
Very Loud
Term
e, et, ed
 Definition
and
Term
Enharmonic
 Definition
A different spelling of the same pitch or chord
Term
Fermata
 Definition
A sign that indicates the note or rest over which it is placed is to be prolonged
Term
Fine
 Definition
The end
Term
Forzando (fz)
 Definition
Forced, a strong accent
Term
Interval
 Definition
The distance or relation between two pitches
Term
Key signature
 Definition
A groupigof accidentals placed at the beginning of a composition or section to indicate key
Term
No sharps or Flats (key signature)
 Definition
C major, A minor
Term
One Sharp (key signature)
 Definition
G Major, e Minor
Term
2 Sharps
 Definition
D Major, b Minor
Term
3 Sharps
 Definition
A Major, f# Minor
Term
4 sharps
 Definition
E Major, c# minor
Term
5 Sharps
 Definition
B Major, g# minor
Term
6 sharps
 Definition
F# Major, d# minor
Term
7 Sharps
 Definition
C# Major, a#minor
Term
1 Flat
 Definition
F Major, d Minor
Term
2 Flats
 Definition
Bb Major, g Minor
Term
3 Flats
 Definition
Eb Major, c Minor
Term
4 flats
 Definition
Ab Major, f Minor
Term
5 Flats
 Definition
Db Major, b flat Minor
Term
6 flats
 Definition
Gb Major, eb minor
Term
7 Flats
 Definition
Cb Major, ab Minor
Term
Legato
 Definition
Smooth and connected
Term
L'istesso Tempo
 Definition
At the same tempo
Term
Maestoso
 Definition
Majestic, with dignity
Term
Marcato
 Definition
Marked, Emphasized
Term
Melisma
 Definition
Use of many notes of one syllable of text
Term
Meno
 Definition
A prefix meaning "less"
Term
Meno Mosso
 Definition
Less Motion
Term
Modulation
 Definition
A change of key withing a composition
Term
Molto
 Definition
Much, Very
Term
Morendo
 Definition
Dying away
Term
Mosso, Moto
 Definition
Motion, Movement
Term
Niente
 Definition
Nothing
Term
Non
 Definition
Not
Term
Ornament
 Definition
Melodic decoration
Term
Ossia
 Definition
Alternate version emotion or passion
Term
Passione
 Definition
With fervent emotion or passion
Term
Phrase
 Definition
A natural division of the melodic line with a cadence; comparable to a clause or sentence
Term
Piu
 Definition
More
Term
Poco a Poco
 Definition
Little by Little
Term
Quasi
 Definition
As is, almost
Term
Rallentando (Rall.)
 Definition
Becoming slower
Term
Ritardando (Rit.)
 Definition
Becoming slower
Term
Rubato
 Definition
Free use of accelerando and ritardando within a measure without altering the duratino of the measure as a whole
Term
Sans
 Definition
Without
Term
Scherzando
 Definition
Playfully
Term
Sempre
 Definition
Always
Term
Senza
 Definition
Without
Term
Sequence
 Definition
Repetition of a set of notes at a different scale degree
Term
Sforzando or Sforzato (sf or sfz)
 Definition
Forced or accented
Term
Simile
 Definition
In a similar manner
Term
Sotto voce
 Definition
Softly, with a subdued voice, literally "under the voice"
Term
Staccato
 Definition
Detached
Term
Subito
 Definition
Suddenly
Term
tacet
 Definition
To be silent
Term
tempo
 Definition
The pace at which a composition is to be performed; rate of speed
Term
Grave
 Definition
Very, very slow
Term
Largo
 Definition
Very Slow
Term
Larghetto
 Definition
Less slow than largo
Term
Adagio
 Definition
Slow
Term
Lento
 Definition
Moderately slow
Term
Adante
 Definition
Moderate; walking tempo
Term
Andantino
 Definition
less slow than andante
Term
Moderato
 Definition
Medium tempo
Term
Allegretto
 Definition
less fast than allegro
Term
Allegro
 Definition
Fast
Term
Vivace, Vivo
 Definition
Very fast and lively
Term
Presto
 Definition
Estremely fast
Term
Prestissimo
 Definition
As fast as possible
Term
Tenuto
 Definition
Hold or sustain
Term
Tessitura
 Definition
The location of the majortiy of pitches in a composition or section
Term
Timbre
 Definition
Tone Color
Term
Time Signature
 Definition
A symbol indicating the type of meter and the unit of beat
Term
Tonality
 Definition
All notes in a scale related to one central tone
Term
Tranquillo
 Definition
Tranquil, Peaceful
Term
Tutti
 Definition
All
Term
Unison
 Definition
Voices on the same pitch or mixed voices in octaves
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