ABRSM Grade 3 Musical Terms & Signs (Part 1)

adagietto

• convenient

• becoming more lively

• rather slow (but faster than adagio)

• mournful/sad

ad libitum, ad lib

• at choice, the passage may be played freely

• becoming more lively

• rhythmically

• playful, joking

agitato

• first

• so much

• sad

• agitated

alla breve

• broadly

• 2 minim beats per bar

• sudden

• with some freedom of time

amore, amoroso

• love, loving

• quick, quicker

• sad, sadness

• calm, calmer

con anima

• force

• heavy

• bold, strong

• with soul/spirit

animato

• animatedly

• delicate

• energetic

• always

animando

• becoming more lively

• broadly

• rather slow

• gradually getting faster

ben

• force

• first

• second

• well

brio

• energetic

• so much

• always

• vigour