Performance Terms AP Music Theory Mr Silvagni Italian

Performance Terms AP Music Theory Mr. Silvagni

Italian heritage • Most terms in music come from Italian, though there a few in French and German • An exhaustive list of musical terms: • https: //en. wikipedia. org/wiki/List_of_Italian_musical_terms_used_in _English

Clarifying Terms • Staying the same • L’istesso tempo – at the same tempo • Sempre – Always • Simile – In the same manner • Changing slowly • Poco a poco – little by little • A small amount • Non troppo – not too much • Poco – little • Un poco – a little

Clarifying terms • A large amount • Assai – very • Molto – very • Less • Meno – less • Mezzo – half • More • Più – more • With • Con - with

Dynamics indicate the volume and or mood of a piece of music. Here they are listed from softest to loudest • ppp – pianississimo • pp – pianissimo • p – piano • mp – mezzo piano • mf – mezzo forte • f – forte • ff – fortissimo • fff - fortississimo

Other dynamic terms • Crescendo – increasing in loudness • Decrescendo – decreasing in loudness • Diminuendo – decreasing in loudness • fp – fortepiano – forte immediately followed by piano • rf or rfz – rinforzando – a sudden increase in loudness

Tempo refers to the speed of music Initial markings are in Italian and may be followed by a metronome marking, e. g. M. M. = 120 (Maelzel Metronome), referring to beats per minute The metronome marking will also refer to which note is played at the listed speed, e. g. quarter note = 120

Italian Tempo Terms • Fast tempo • • Prestissimo – very quick Presto – quick Vivace – fast and lively; vivacious Allegro – quick; lively; bright; merry • Medium tempo • • Allegretto – moderately quick, but not as fast as allegro Andantino – a little quicker than andante Andante – moderately slow Moderato – restrained or moderate • Slow tempo • • • Adagio – at east, slow Adagio assai – very slow Largo – broad; very slow; dignified Larghetto – slower than largo Lento – slow Grave – slow and solemn

Other tempo terms • Speeding up • Accelerando – to increase the tempo gradually • Stringendo – to press forward • Slowing down • Rallentando – to slow down gradually • Ritardanto – to slow down gradually • Ritenuto – to slow down suddenly • Other tempo changes • Rubato – to take out of the stated tempo

Articuations Articulations mark how to play a note or phrase music. It may involve the attack, release, or the entire envelope of created sound. • fz – forzando – forced; played with a sudden accent • sf or sfz – sforzato – played with sudden emphasis • fzp – forzando piano – played with a sudden accent and immediately becoming piano

Style markings identify the mood or expression used to play a part or whole piece of music • Amoroso – tender and affectionate • Animato – animated, lively • Calando – gradually softer and slower • Cantabile – in a singing style • Con anima – with life and animation • Con brio – with vigor and spirit • Con dolore – with sadness • Con forza – with force • Con fuoco – with fire, in a fiery manner • Con moto – with motion • Deciso – decisively • Détaché – detached • Dolce - sweetly

• • • • • Style markings contd. Doloroso – sorrowfully Espressivo – expressively Furioso – furious Giocoso – humorous Grandioso – with grandeur Grazioso – gracefully Legato – smooth and connected Leggiero – lightly Maestoso – majestically Marcato – marked and stressed Marzial – in the style of a march Morendo – dying away Pesante – heavy Religioso – solemn, religious Semplice – simple Sostenuto – sustained Soto voce – in an undertone Staccato – short and detached Tranquillo - tranquil

Additional Playing Indications • • • • Arco – played with a bow Arpeggio – notes of a chord played in a sequence Caesura or cesura – complete break in sound/grand pause (railroad tracks) Con sordino/senza sordino – play with mute/play without mute D. C. al Coda – go back to the start and play until you reach To Coda – then jump to the coda D. S. al Coda – go back to the sign and play until you reach To Coda – then jump to the coda D. C. al Fine – go back to the start and play until you reach Fine D. S. al Segno – go back to the sign and play until you reach Fine Grace note – miniature note played quickly before another note Octave sign (8 va or 8 vb) – signal to play notes octave higher or lower Mordent – ornament indicating first 3 notes of a downward trill (G F G) Pedal line – Ped. ______^ - guide pianist or vibraphonist to use sustain pedal Pizzicato – played by plucking Tremolo – rapid repetition of the same note (roll) Trill – ornament where two notes a second apart are alternated rapidly Turn – ornament where you play one above and below written note (D C B C)

Additional terms • Alberti bass – accompaniment pattern using a three note chord broken typically as root-fifth-third-fifth • Cadenza – solo section, typically out of time, to show off • Opus – work number • Tre corde – release left piano pedal • Una corda – press left piano pedal • Vibrato – fluctuation of pitch