Introduction to Music Theory

August 16, 2005

Musical Terms

• Tempos– Adagio – A slow tempo marking between

Largo and Andante.– Allegretto – A rather fast tempo marking

between Allegro and Moderato.– Allegro – A fast tempo marking between

Allegretto and Vivace.– Andante – A moderate tempo marking

between Largo and Moderato

Musical Terms

• Tempos (contd.)– Andantino – A moderate tempo marking slightly

faster than Andante and slower than Moderato.– Larghetto – A tempo not quite as slow as Largo.

Often between 60-66 beats per minute.– Largo – A slow tempo marking, having between

40 and 60 beats per minute.– Lento – Slow.– Moderato – A directive to perform a certain

passage of a composition in a moderate tempo; moderately restrained.

Musical Terms

• Tempos (contd.)– Prestissimo – A directive to perform a certain

passage of a composition very, very fast, as fast as possible; faster than presto.

– Presto – A directive to perform a certain passage of a composition very quickly.

– Vivace – A directive to perform a certain passage of a composition in a lively or brisk manner.

– Vivo – A directive to perform a certain passage of a composition in a lively, animated or brisk manner. Slightly more animated or brisk than Vivace.

Musical Terms

• Activity– Arrange the tempo notecards from

slowest to fastest

Musical Terms

• Basic Dynamic Markings– Fortissimo– Forte– Mezzo-Forte– Mezzo-Piano– Piano– Pianissimo

Musical Terms

• Other Musical Terms– Accelerando – Gradually accelerating or getting

faster.– Crescendo – A musical directive to the performer

to smoothly increase the volume of a particular phrase or passage

– Decrescendo – A musical directive to the performer to smoothly decrease the volume of a particular phrase or passage.

– Dolce – A directive to a performer to play a certain passage sweetly, softly, with tender emotion.

– Legato – A directive to perform a certain passage of a composition in a smooth, graceful, connected style.

– Marcato – Marked, accented, emphatic, stressed.

Musical Terms

• Musical Terms– Meno – Less– Mosso – Movement, motion; moved; agitated.– Piu - More– Rallentando – A directive to perform a certain

passage of a composition with a gradual slowing of the tempo.

– Ritardando – A directive to perform a certain passage of a composition with a ritard the tempo, to gradually delay the tempo.

– Rubato – It involves the performer tastefully stretching, slowing, or hurrying the tempo as she/he sees fit, thus imparting flexibility and emotion to the performance.

Musical Terms

• Musical Terms– Schnell – Fast, quickly, rapidly.– Sempre – Always.– Sforzando – A directive to perform a specific note

or chord of a composition with particular emphasis.

– Sostenuto – Sustained.– Staccato – A style of playing notes in a detached,

separated, distinct manner, as opposed to legato.– Tenuto – A directive to perform a certain note or

chord of a composition in a sustained manner for longer than its full duration.

Works Cited

• Definitions are from the Virginia Tech Multimedia Music available online at http://www.music.vt.edu/musicdictionary/