Crescendo (cresc.

) or < Getting louder

Short Dictionary of Musical Terms Decrescendo (decresc.) >
Diminuendo (dim.)
Getting softer
Getting softer
Forte (f) Loud
Indicating Speed
Fortissimo (ff) Very loud
fff Louder than Fortissimo
Adagio, molto adagio Slow, very slow
Mezzo-forte (mf) Half-loud
Adagissimo Slower than Adagio
Mezzo-piano (mp) Half-soft
Allegro Fast, lively
Piano (p) Soft
Allegretto Not so fast as Allegro
Pianissimo (pp) Very soft
Andante Moderately slow
(ppp) Softer than Pianissimo
Andantino Not so slow as Andante
Dolce Sweetly
Grave Grave, solemn
Calando Decreasing
Largamente Slow, broad
Morendo Getting slower and softer
Largo Slow, broad
Perpendosi Getting slower and softer
Larghetto Not so slow as Largo
Smorzando Getting slower and softer
Lento Very slow
Forte piano (fp) Increased accent on a single note or chord
Moderate At a moderate speed
Sforzando (sf) > or ^ Increased accent on a single note or chord
Presto Quick, lively
Forzato (fz) Increased accent on a single note or chord
Prestissimo Very quick, very lively
Rinforzando (rf or rinf.) Increased accent on a single note or chord
Vivace Vivaciously, lively, quickly
Other Terms Indicating Character or Manner of Performance
Indicating Modification of Speed
Affettuoso Affectionately
Allargando Decreasing and broadening the speed
Agitato Agitated
A tempo In time
Amabile Amiably
Ad libitum At pleasure
Amoroso Lovingly
A piacere Pointedly, or same as Ad libitum
Animate Animated
Doppio movimento At double the pace
Appassionato Passionately, full of passion
L'istesso tempo In the same time
Ben marcato Well marked
Meno Allegro Less quickly
Brillaote Brilliantly
Meno mosso Slower
Brioso With vigour
Piu mosso Quicker
Vigoroso With vigour
Ritardando (ritard.) Getting slower
Cantabile In a singing style
Rallentando (rall) Getting slower
Cantando In a singing style
Ritenuto (rit.) Slower, held back
Come prima As at first
Accelerando (accel.) Getting faster
Coda For concluding a movement
Stringendo Pressing onwards
Con amore With love
Con brio With brightness
Expression Marks
Con anima With soul

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Con moto With motion
Con spirito With spirit
Deciso With decision
Doloroso Sorrowful
Grazioso Gracefully
Giocoso Gaily, in a jocular manner
Grandiosa Grandly
Impetuoso Impetuously
Legato Smooth
Leggiero Lightly
Maestoso Majestically
Maggiore Major
Marcato Marked
Minore Miner
Molto Much
Mosso or Moto Movement
Pastorale In a pastoral style
Pesante Heavily
Poco a poco Little by little
Pomposo Pompously
Replica Repeat
Risoluta Resolutely
Scherzando In a playful manner
Semplice Simply
Senza Without
Sostenuto Sustained
Sotto voce Under the voice
Strepitoso In a boisterous fashion
Temp o rubato Robbed time
Tenuto Held, sustained
Veloce Rapidly
Vivo With vivacity