Italian Music Terms (Grade 2)

Grave

• expressive

• sweet

• graceful

• very slow, solemn

ritenuto

• held back

• gradually getting louder

• gradually getting slower

• slow

meno mosso

• less movement; slower

• with movement

• more movement; quicker

• without movement

• bar-line

• double bar-line

• repeat mark

• the end

• strong accent

• slight pressure

• staccato

• staccatissimo

con moto

• more movement

• less movement

• with movement

• without movement

• gradually getting quieter

• gradually getting slower

• gradually getting louder

• accent the note

ff

• very loud

• loud

• moderately loud

• loud, then immediately quiet

Vivace

• at a medium speed

• lively, quick

• slow

• fairly quick

• staccato: detached

• perform an octave higher

• perform the notes smoothly

• pause on the note