Accidental – A symbol that impacts a note to modify the resulting pitch
Adagio – Slow tempo
Allargando – Gradually getting slower and more stately
Allegretto – Moderately quick tempo, slightly slower than Allegro
Allegro – Quick tempo
Andante – Walking tempo
Andantino – Moderate tempo, slightly faster than Andante
Beat – A steady pulse in time that is used to give length to a specific rhythmic note, know as the beat note. For example, in 4 / 4 time, the quarter note is the beat note.
Crescendo – Gradually getting louder
Decrescendo – Gradually becoming more quiet
Doppio Piu Mosso – Suddenly twice the tempo
Doppio Piu Lento – Suddenly half the tempo
Double Flat – An accidental that lowers the pitch by a whole step (major second)
Double Sharp – An accidental that raises the pitch by a whole second (major second)
Fantasia – Musical form with no constructs that allows the imagination and creativity of the composer to flourish. In Baroque music, the fantasia was often an introduction to a fugue. In the Romantic period, the fantasia was used for complete works.
Flat – An accidental that lowers the pitch by a half step (minor second)
Forte – Loud
Fortissimo – Very loud
Grave – Extremely slow and solemn
Homophonic – A method of composition where all parts share similar, if not the same, rhythm. Parts move together rather than independently.
Key – A system of tonality where chords perform functionally with regards to the tonal center
Largo – Very slow and dignified
Lento – Slow tempo
Meno Mosso – Less motion (slightly slower)
Mezzo Forte – Medium loud
Mezzo Piano – Medium quiet
Moderato – Moderate tempo
Mosso – Animated, motion
Nocturne – A musical form without constructs that is inspired by night time.
Partita – A Suite composed for a single instrument.
Pianissimo – Very quiet
Piano – Quiet
Piu Mosso – With motion
Polyphonic – A method of composition where parts move independently. The fugue is a polyphonic form.
Prestissimo – Slightly faster than presto
Presto – Very fast tempo
Rallentando – Gradually getting slower – less extreme than ritardando.
Rhapsody – A musical form with no formal constructs in which the composer employs many contrasts to tell a story or paint a musical picture.
Ritardando – Gradually getting slower – more extreme than rallentando.
Rubato – Tempo is flexible (opposite of Tempo Giusto).
Scale – A sequence of tones within an octave that that are used to create a piece of music.
Sharp – An accidental that raises the pitch by a half step (minor second).
Stringendo – Gradually getting faster.
Suite – A multi-movement musical work where each movement is a dance.
Tempo – The speed (fast or slow) of the beat for a piece of music.
Tonal Center – See Tonic Note
Tonality – The organization of notes and chords around a central, most important note.
Tonic Note – The central, most important note in a given tonality
Tempo Giusto – In strict tempo (opposite of rubato).
