Italian Musical Terms Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What does the term 'largo' mean?

Very slow (correct)

Medium slow

Fast

Slow

What does the term 'adagio' mean?

Slow (correct)

Medium slow

Very slow

Very fast

What does 'andante' refer to in music?

Moderate

Medium slow, walking pace (correct)

Slow

Very slow

What does the term 'moderato' indicate?

Moderate Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of 'allegro'?

Fast Signup and view all the answers

What does 'presto' mean?

Very fast Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'pianissimo' mean?

Very soft Signup and view all the answers

What does 'piano' signify in music?

Soft Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of 'mezzo piano'?

Medium soft Signup and view all the answers

What does 'mezzo forte' mean?

Medium loud Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'forte' signify?

Loud Signup and view all the answers

What does 'fortissimo' mean?

Very loud Signup and view all the answers

What does 'crescendo' indicate?

Gradually louder Signup and view all the answers

What does 'decrescendo' refer to?

Gradually softer Signup and view all the answers

What does 'accelerando' mean?

Gradually faster Signup and view all the answers

What does 'ritardando' signify?

Gradually slower Signup and view all the answers

What does 'ritenuto' refer to?

Suddenly slower Signup and view all the answers

What does 'con moto' mean?

With motion Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of 'meno mosso'?

Less motion Signup and view all the answers

What does 'doppio movimento' refer to?

Twice as fast, double the movement Signup and view all the answers

What does 'a tempo' mean?

Resume previous tempo Signup and view all the answers

What does 'l'istesso tempo' signify?

Keep the same tempo Signup and view all the answers

What does 'rubato' refer to?

Stolen time, flexible with the tempo Signup and view all the answers

What does 'fermata' mean?

Sustain the note longer than its printed value Signup and view all the answers

What does 'caesura' indicate?

A short pause in the music Signup and view all the answers

What does 'legato' mean?

Smooth and connected Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of 'tenuto'?

Sustained full value Signup and view all the answers

What does 'portato' mean?

Separated slightly within a slur Signup and view all the answers

What does 'staccato' refer to?

Detached, separated Signup and view all the answers

What does 'staccatissimo' mean?

Very short Signup and view all the answers

What does 'marcato' mean?

Marked with emphasis Signup and view all the answers

What does 'sforzando' signify?

Sudden strong accent Signup and view all the answers

What does 'cantabile' mean?

In a singing style Signup and view all the answers

What does 'dolce' refer to?

Sweetly Signup and view all the answers

What does 'espressivo' mean?

Expressively Signup and view all the answers

What does 'scherzando' indicate?

Playfully Signup and view all the answers

What does 'leggiero' mean?

Lightly Signup and view all the answers

What does 'sostenuto' signify?

Sustained Signup and view all the answers

What does 'maestoso' mean?

Majestically Signup and view all the answers

What does 'pesante' refer to?

Heavy Signup and view all the answers

What does 'simile' mean?

The same Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of 'poco a poco'?

Little by little Signup and view all the answers

What does 'subito' mean?

Suddenly Signup and view all the answers

What does 'molto' refer to?

Much, very Signup and view all the answers

What does 'non' mean?

Not Signup and view all the answers

What does 'sempre' signify?

Always Signup and view all the answers

What does 'senza' mean?

Without Signup and view all the answers

What does 'divisi' refer to?

Divide the part Signup and view all the answers

What does 'tutti' mean?

All, everyone play together Signup and view all the answers

What does 'tacet' mean?

Be silent, do not play Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Italian Musical Terms Study Notes

Largo: Indicates a very slow tempo, often used to create a calm atmosphere.
Adagio: Represents a slow tempo, allowing for expressive playing.
Andante: Denotes a medium slow tempo, akin to a walking pace, creating a relaxed feel.
Moderato: Signifies a moderate tempo, serving as a balanced pace in compositions.
Allegro: Indicates a fast tempo, lively and bright, often raising energy.
Presto: Represents a very fast tempo, quickens the piece, creating excitement.
Pianissimo: Indicates a very soft dynamic level, conveying tenderness and subtlety.
Piano: Signifies a soft dynamic, allowing for gentle expression in music.
Mezzo Piano: Denotes a medium soft dynamic, balancing softness with presence.
Mezzo Forte: Represents a medium loud dynamic, providing a stronger yet balanced sound.
Forte: Indicates a loud dynamic, striking attention and intensity in performance.
Fortissimo: Signifies a very loud dynamic, often used for dramatic emphasis.
Crescendo: Describes a gradual increase in loudness, building intensity in a musical phrase.
Decrescendo: Indicates a gradual decrease in loudness, softening the musical expression.
Accelerando: Suggests a gradual increase in tempo, speeding up the music.
Ritardando: Signifies a gradual decrease in tempo, slowing down for expressive effect.
Ritenuto: Indicates a sudden slowdown in tempo, often for dramatic impact.
Con Moto: Means "with motion," encouraging energetic playing.
Meno Mosso: Indicates "less motion," suggesting a slower pace than before.
Doppio Movimento: Means "twice as fast," calling for a double speed in tempo.
A Tempo: Refers to returning to the original tempo after a deviation.
L'istesso Tempo: Means to keep the same tempo, maintaining consistency throughout.
Rubato: Describes a flexible treatment of tempo, allowing for expressive phrasing.
Fermata: Instruction to sustain a note longer than its original value, creating a pause.
Caesura: A short pause in the music, providing dramatic effect before continuation.
Legato: Indicates notes should be played smoothly and connected without breaks.
Tenuto: Suggests that a note should be played at full value, held for its complete duration.
Portato: Means slightly separating notes within a slur, creating a gentle lift.
Staccato: Indicates that notes should be played detached and separated.
Staccatissimo: A very short staccato, emphasizing rapid detachment.
Marcato: Denotes a marked, emphasized playing style, accentuating certain notes.
Sforzando: Signifies a sudden strong accent on a note or chord.
Cantabile: Indicates a singing style of playing, focusing on lyrical expression.
Dolce: Suggests playing sweetly, conveying tenderness and warmth.
Espressivo: Calls for expressive playing, emphasizing emotional content in the music.
Scherzando: Indicates a playful manner, lighthearted in approach.
Leggiero: Suggests a light and agile playing style.
Sostenuto: Means to sustain notes over their full length, creating a lingering sound.
Maestoso: Indicates a majestic style, exuding grandeur and dignity.
Pesante: Suggests a heavy, weighted performance, often slow and serious.
Simile: Indicates to continue in the same manner, maintaining the previous style.
Poco a Poco: Means little by little, suggesting gradual progression in dynamics or tempo.
Subito: Indicates sudden changes, often in dynamics or tempo.
Molto: Signifies much or very, used to intensify instructions.
Non: Means not, often used to negate a dynamic or instruction.
Sempre: Indicates always, suggesting consistency throughout the piece.
Senza: Means without, used in various contexts within music.
Divisi: Indicates to divide the parts, often within an ensemble setting.
Tutti: Means all, instructing everyone to play together.
Tacet: Instructs to be silent or not play during a passage.

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Description

Explore key Italian musical terms with these flashcards that cover various tempos and dynamics. Learn the meanings of terms like 'largo', 'adagio', and 'presto' to enhance your musical vocabulary and understanding. Perfect for music students and enthusiasts alike!