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Largo

Back

An instruction meaning the music is usually slow in speed, or broad in tempo.

Front

Legato

Back

An instruction indicating that a sequence of notes should be played smoothly, or joined up, as opposed to disconnected.

Front

Leggiero

Back

An instruction meaning to play lightly and without force.

Front

(col) Legno

Back

An instruction for string players, usually written as 'col legno' (with the wood). This indicates that the string player should use the wooden side of the bow to hit the strings with.

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Leitmotif

Back

A short, recurring musical phrase, usually associated with a character, idea, event or object. This is the musical equivalent of branding. Wagner used the technique extensively in his music dramas.

Front

Lento

Back

A tempo instruction meaning the music is slow.

Front

Libretto

Back

The text of an opera or vocal work, which was traditionally printed in a small book.

Front

Lied(er)

Back

A form of song in the German tradition, exemplified by: Schubert, Schumann, Brahms, Wolff, Mahler and Richard Strauss.

Front

Madrigal

Back

A vocal composition originating in 14th Century Italy. Madrigals are usually of a secular nature, and became very popular in the Renaissance and early Baroque periods.

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Major

Back

A scale which corresponds on the piano to all the white notes, C to C. A C major triad chord consists of the notes: C, E, and G. Generally, major keys sound 'happy' while minor keys sound 'sad'.