accent
a stressed note
allegretto
fairly fast (a little slower than allegro)
allegro
fast
andante
moderately slow; at a walking pace
a tempo
return to the original tempo
cantabile
in a singing style
common time
a symbol for 4/4
crescendo, cresc.
becoming louder
da capo, D.C.
from the beginning
dal segno, D.S.
from the sign
D.C. al Fine
repeat from the beginning and end at Fine
decrescendo, decresc.
becoming softer
diminuendo, dim.
becoming softer
dolce
sweet, gentle
double bar line
indicates the end of a piece
fermata (pause)
hold the note or rest longer than its written value
fine
the end
forte
loud
fortissimo
very loud
grazioso
graceful
legato
smooth
lento
slow
maestoso
majestic
marcato
marked or stressed
mezzo forte
moderately loud
mezzo piano
moderately soft
moderato
at a moderate tempo
molto
much, very
ottava, 8va
the interval of an octave
pianissimo
very soft
piano
soft
poco
little
presto
very fast
rallentando, rall.
slowing down
repeat sign
repeat the music within the double bar lines
ritardando, rit.
slowing down gradually
slur
play the notes smoothly (legato)
staccato
detached
tempo
speed at which music is performed
tenuto
held, sustained
tie
hold for the combined value of the tied notes