Common Musical Terms Group A

Tempo

• Test

• Time/Speed

• Volume

• Age

Allargando (allarg)

• Gradually slower

• Gradually Slower and Broader

• Gradually Faster

• Gradually Louder

Adagio

• Gradually slower and broader

• gradually faster

• very fast

• very slow

Accelerando

• Tempo/Speed

• To get slower

• Gradually faster

• Immediately slow

abbreviation for allargando

• accel.

• allarg.

• rall.

• rit.

a tempo

• in time; return to the original rate of speed

• to get faster

• to get slower

• volume

Rallentando

• Gradually faster

• Gradually slower

• Rapid/Lively

• very slow and solemn

allegretto

• light and moderately quick; not as fast as allegro

• rapid; lively

• moderately slow; but moving

• very slow and solemn

allegro

• very slow

• light and moderately quick

• rapid; lively

• very slow and solemn

andante

• loud

• moderately slow, but moving

• soft

• speed