Italian Terms And Definitions Dealing With Tempo

Front 1

Adagio

Back 1

Slow (slower than Andante but not as slow as Largo)

Front 2

Lento

Back 2

Slow

Front 3

Largo

Back 3

Very Slow and Broad

Front 4

Larghetto

Back 4

not as slow as largo

Front 5

Andante

Back 5

moderatly slowly; at walking pace

Front 6

Andantino

Back 6

a little faster that Andante

Front 7

Allegretto

Back 7

Fairly fast (a little slower than allegro)

Front 8

Moderato

Back 8

At a moderate tempo

Front 9

Allegro

Back 9

Fast

Front 10

Presto

Back 10

Very Fast

Front 11

Prestissimo

Back 11

as fast as possible

Front 12

Grave

Back 12

very slow and solemn, slower than largo

Front 13

Vivo, or Vivace

Back 13

quickly, faster than Allegro

Front 14

cantabile

Back 14

singing style

Front 15

dolce

Back 15

sweet

Front 16

fine

Back 16

the end

Front 17

grazioso

Back 17

graceful

Front 18

maestoso

Back 18

majestic pace

Front 19

mano destra, M.D.

Back 19

right hand

Front 20

mano sinistra, M.S.

Back 20

Left hand

Front 21

marcato

Back 21

marked or stressed

Front 22

accent

Back 22

stressed note or chord

Front 23

crescendo

Back 23

becoming louder

Front 24

decrescendo

Back 24

becoming softer

Front 25

diminuendo

Back 25

becoming softer

Front 26

dal segno, D.S.

Back 26

from the sign

Front 27

Fermata

Back 27

a pause, hold the note longer then usual

Front 28

Slur

Back 28

Smoothly connected (different notes)

Front 29

cantabile

Back 29

singing style

Front 30

dolce

Back 30

sweet

Front 31

fine

Back 31

the end

Front 32

grazioso

Back 32

graceful

Front 33

maestoso

Back 33

majestic pace

Front 34

mano destra, M.D.

Back 34

right hand

Front 35

mano sinistra, M.S.

Back 35

Left hand

Front 36

marcato

Back 36

marked or stressed

Front 37

accent

Back 37

stressed note or chord

Front 38

crescendo

Back 38

becoming louder

Front 39

decrescendo

Back 39

becoming softer

Front 40

diminuendo

Back 40

becoming softer

Front 41

dal segno, D.S.

Back 41

from the sign

Front 42

Fermata

Back 42

a pause, hold the note longer then usual

Front 43

Slur

Back 43

Smoothly connected (different notes)

Front 44

Staccato

Back 44

sharply detached

Front 45

Tie

Back 45

same notes

Front 46

animato

Back 46

animated, lively

Front 47

brillante

Back 47

brilliant

Front 48

con

Back 48

with

Front 49

con brio

Back 49

with spirit

Front 50

con espressione

Back 50

with expression

Front 51

espressivo

Back 51

expressive

Front 52

leggiero

Back 52

light, quick

Front 53

tanquillo

Back 53

tranguil, quiet

Front 54

Tempo

Back 54

Speed at which music is performed

Front 55

a tempo

Back 55

back to previous tempo

Front 56

Tempo Primo

Back 56

return to original tempo

Front 57

rallentando

Back 57

slowing down

Front 58

ritardando

Back 58

slowing down gradually

Front 59

forte

Back 59

loud

Front 60

fortissimo

Back 60

very loud

Front 61

mezzo forte

Back 61

moderatly loud

Front 62

mezzo piano

Back 62

moderatly soft

Front 63

piano

Back 63

soft

Front 64

pianissimo

Back 64

very soft