Musical Terms in Arabic and English

Musical Terms

• A cappella is a type of choral music that is performed without instrumental accompaniment.
• Accelerando refers to the gradual increase in the speed of the rhythmic beat.
• Adagio is a slow tempo, indicated in sheet music, and requires playing the piece at a slow pace.
• Allegro is a fast tempo, indicated in sheet music, and requires playing the piece at a rapid pace.

Vocal and Instrumental Ranges

• Alto refers to a low-ranged female voice, or the second lowest instrumental range.

Tempo Markings

• Andante is a moderate tempo, equivalent to a walking pace, derived from the Italian word "Andare", meaning "to walk".

Musical Terms and Definitions

• A bar is a common term for a musical measure, which defines the rhythm and melody between two lines.

Vocal Terms

• A baritone is a moderately low male voice, ranging between a tenor and a bass.

Musical Periods

• The Baroque Era (c1600-1750) was a musical period characterized by extremely ornate and elaborate approaches to the arts, featuring famous composers like Vivaldi, Handel, and JS Bach.

Instrumental Terms

• The bass is the lowest male voice or the lowest-pitched stringed instrument (see Double Bass).

Percussion Instruments

• The bass drum is the lowest-sounding non-pitched percussion instrument.

Woodwind Instruments

• The bassoon is the lowest-sounding regular instrument of the woodwind family, which is a double-reed instrument.