abrsm musical terms
DESCRIPTION
Grade 5 Abrsm musical terms arranged by catergoryTRANSCRIPT
f forte loud cantabile in a singing style
p piano quiet / soft legato smoothly
mf mezzo forte quite loud staccato detached (hop)
mp mezzo piano quite quiet slur play all notes inside the slur legato
ff fortissimo very loud pause pause (rest) on the note
pp pianissimo very quiet espress. espressivo expressive
dim. diminuendo gradually get quieter dolce sweetly
decresc. decrescendo gradually get quieter grazioso gracefully
cresc. crescendo gradually get louder giocoso playfull, merry
Accent play the note louder sostenuto sustained
Fp Fortepiano loud, then immediately quiet semi-staccato a little detached
sFz / sF Sforzando forced, accented staccatissimo as short as possible
tenuto slightly more pressure (half accent) amore love
calando getting softer, dying away anima spirit, soul
morendo dying away forza force
perdendosi dying away delicate delicate
al niente to nothing leggiero light, nimble
estinto as soft as possible, lifeless mesto sad
rF / rFz rinforzando reinforcing tristamente triste. very sad, sorrowful
scherzando/scherzoso playful, joking
lento slow energico energetic
adagio slow agitato agitated
andante at a medium speed risoluto resolute (bold, strong)
moderato moderately brio vigour
allegretto quite fast deciso decisive (with determination)
allegro fast semplice simple
accel. accelerando gradually get faster ritmico rhythmically
rall. rallentando gradually get slower marziale in a marching style
rit. ritardando gradually get slower ad lib. ad libitum at choice (play freely)
grave very slow, solemn facile easy
largo slow, stately amabile amiable (pleasant)
larghetto quite slow affettuoso tenderly
andantino slightly faster than andante appassionato passionately
vivace/vivo lively, quick fuoco fire
presto very fast nobilmente nobly
allargando broadening sonoro resonant, with rich tone
maestoso majestic cantando singing
adagietto quite slow dolente sad, mournful
largamente broadly dolore grief
animato animated, lively lacrimoso sad
tranquillo calm piangevole plaintive, in the style of a lament
pesante heavy piacevole pleasant
animando becoming lively teneremente/teneremezza tenderly
stringendo gradually getting faster lusingando coaxing, sweetly and persuasive
alla breve in a minim beat, faster tempo smorzando dying away in tone and speed
rubato with some freedom of time
affrettando hurrying
veloce swift
volante flying fast
incalzando getting faster
doppio movimento double movement (twice as fast)
72 crotchet beats in a minute et and
and repeat marks un / une one
tempo speed/time (a tempo - in time) mais but
fine the end non not
D.C Da Capo repeat from the beginning tres very
D.S Dal Segno repeat from the sign peu little
8va (above or below) play an octave above or below assez enough
poco a little avec with
al, alla in the manner of sans without
con, col with plus more
ma but moins less
non not lent slow
meno less modere moderately
piu more vite fast
molto much vif lively
troppo too much cedez yield, relax the speed
senza without presser hurry
sim. Similie in the same way (similar) anime animated, lively
moto / mosso movement retenu held back
ben well ralentir slow down
sempre always douce sweet
tanto so much legerement light
subito suddenly en dehors prominent
comodo comfortable, convenient
primo / prima first und and
seconda second ein one
volta time aber but
come similar to, as nicht not
giusto exact sehr very
l’istesso the same wenig little
quasi as if, resembling mit with
possibile possible ohne without
sopra above immer always
sotto below wieder again
voce voice etwas rather
loco normal (play at normal pitch) langsam slow
lunga long breit broad
misura measure massig moderate
ossia or, alternatively schnell fast
pochettino poch. very little lebhaft lively
tosto swift, rapid frohlich cheerful, joyful
segue go straight on traurig sad
attacca go straight on ruhig peaceful
bewegt with movement, agitated
einfach simple
zart tender, delicate
suss sweet
ausdruck expression