Abrsm Grade 3 Theory - Performance Directions

Front 1

adagietto

Back 1

rather slow (but faster than adagio)

Front 2

ad libitum, ad lib.

Back 2

at choice, meaning that a passage may be played freely

Front 3

agitato

Back 3

agitated

Front 4

alla breve

Back 4

with a minim beat, equivalent to (2/2), implying a faster tempo than the note values might otherwise suggest

Front 5

amore

Back 5

love (amoroso: loving)

Front 6

anima

Back 6

soul, spirit (con anima can mean 'with feeling' or 'spirited')

Front 7

animato

Back 7

animated, lively (animando: becoming more lively)

Front 8

ben

Back 8

well

Front 9

brio

Back 9

vigour (con brio: with vigour, lively)

Front 10

comodo

Back 10

convenient( tempo comodo: at a comfortable speed)

Front 11

deciso

Back 11

with determination

Front 12

delicato

Back 12

delicate

Front 13

energico

Back 13

energetic

Front 14

forza

Back 14

force

Front 15

largamente

Back 15

broadly

Front 16

leggiero

Back 16

light, nimble

Front 17

marcato, marc.

Back 17

emphatic, accented

Front 18

marziale

Back 18

in military style

Front 19

mesto

Back 19

sad

Front 20

pesante

Back 20

heavy

Front 21

prima, primo

Back 21

first

Front 22

risoluto

Back 22

bold, strong

Front 23

ritmico

Back 23

rhythmically

Front 24

rubato, tempo rubato

Back 24

with some freedom of time

Front 25

scherzando, scherzoso

Back 25

playful, joking

Front 26

seconda, secondo

Back 26

second

Front 27

semplice

Back 27

simple, plain

Front 28

sempre

Back 28

always

Front 29

stringendo

Back 29

gradually getting faster

Front 30

subito

Back 30

suddenly

Front 31

tanto

Back 31

so much

Front 32

tranquillo

Back 32

calm

Front 33

triste, tristamente

Back 33

sad, sorrowful

Front 34

volta

Back 34

time (prima volta: first time; seconda volta: second time)