Conducting Part Ii

Front 1

key signature

Back 1

The placement of sharps / flats on the musical staff

Front 2

largo

Back 2

large, broad

Front 3

legato

Back 3

smooth and connected

Front 4

leger lines

Back 4

short horizontal lines above or below the staff used to indicate the pitch of those notes which lie outside of the staff.

Front 5

lento

Back 5

slow

Front 6

ma non troppo

Back 6

but not too fast

Front 7

maestoso

Back 7

majestically

Front 8

marcato

Back 8

well marked and separated

Front 9

measure

Back 9

the distance between two bar lines

Front 10

meno

Back 10

less

Front 11

meter

Back 11

Denoted by a time signature, how many beats in a measure and which beat (or beats) is emphasized

Front 12

metronome

Back 12

An instrument that provides an exact measurement of the speed of pulse or beat

Front 13

mezzo

Back 13

half, mid

Front 14

mezzo forte (mf)

Back 14

half loud

Front 15

mezzo piano (mp)

Back 15

half soft

Front 16

minuet

Back 16

slow and stately dance written in triple time

Front 17

molto

Back 17

much

Front 18

morendo

Back 18

dying away

Front 19

mosso

Back 19

movement

Front 20

NB

Back 20

No breath

Front 21

non

Back 21

not or no

Front 22

obbligato

Back 22

An extended solo, often accompanying the vocal part (typically written higher than the melody)

Front 23

pesante

Back 23

heavy, ponderous

Front 24

pianissimo (pp)

Back 24

softest

Front 25

piano (p)

Back 25

soft

Front 26

piu

Back 26

more

Front 27

piu mosso

Back 27

more movement

Front 28

poco

Back 28

little

Front 29

poco a poco

Back 29

little by little

Front 30

poco piu

Back 30

little more

Front 31

polyphony

Back 31

Combination of two or more melodies sounding simultaneously which harmonize

Front 32

prelude

Back 32

A short piece (composition) that precedes a larger work, or simply the title of an independent composition (ie. Bach's 48 Preludes)

Front 33

quasi

Back 33

almost, as if, nearly, approaching

Front 34

rallentando

Back 34

gowing slower and slower

Front 35

recitato

Back 35

recitative, declamatory style, free in tempo and rhythm (closer to the natural manner of speech)

Front 36

ritardando

Back 36

growing slower and slower

Front 37

ritenuto

Back 37

to hold back, at a slower rate of speed

Front 38

rubato

Back 38

freely, robbed of time

Front 39

sans

Back 39

without

Front 40

SATB

Back 40

Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass

Front 41

scherzando

Back 41

jokingly

Front 42

sempre

Back 42

always

Front 43

sforzando (sfz)

Back 43

with special stress

Front 44

solo

Back 44

to perform alone

Front 45

sonata

Back 45

Meaning, "Sounded". The classical Sonata has 4 movements (rapid, slow, minuet, fast)

Front 46

sonore

Back 46

sonorous, deep-toned, clear

Front 47

sostenuto

Back 47

sustained

Front 48

staccato

Back 48

short and detached, well separated

Front 49

subito

Back 49

immediately, suddenly

Front 50

tanto

Back 50

much

Front 51

tempo

Back 51

time, rate of speed, movement of pulse

Front 52

tenuto (ten.)

Back 52

to hold

Front 53

time signature

Back 53

Mathematical ratio that displays beats per measure / the kind of note to receive the beat

Front 54

Unison

Back 54

Sung or played together

Front 55

vigoroso

Back 55

vigorously

Front 56

vite

Back 56

rapid, swift, quick

Front 57

voce

Back 57

voice

Front 58

musical staff

Back 58

The set of 5 horizontal lines - each line representing a pitch, on which music is written

Front 59

bass clef

Back 59

Also known as the F clef, used for baritone and bass voices and lower pitched instruments. The upper curve begins on the F line and circles it. The two dots also go on each side of the F line - hence it is called the F Clef.

Front 60

treble clef

Back 60

Also known as the G clef, used for alto and soprano, and higher pitched instruments. The symbol is a modified letter G. It begins on the second line (G) and circles it - hence it is called the G Clef.