Italian Music Terms

Da capo

• Repeat from the beginning

• Play the next section

• End the piece

• Increase the tempo

Moderato

• Slowly

• Quickly

• Moderately

• Very fast

Decrescendo or Diminuendo

• Gradually softer (>)

• Gradually louder (<)

• Suddenly softer (>)

• Suddenly louder (<)

Tempo

• Rate of Speed in Music

• A type of musical instrument

• A genre of music

• A musical notation style

Allegro

• Quickly, cheerfully

• Slowly, sadly

• Loudly, angrily

• Softly, quietly

Dal Segno

• Repeat from the sign

• Play the previous section

• End the piece

• Start from the beginning

Fortissimo

• Very loud (ff)

• Moderately loud (mf)

• Softly (p)

• Loud (f)

Largo

• Very slow

• Moderately fast

• Extremely quick

• Somewhat slow

Tenuto

• Hold the note for its full value

• Play the note staccato

• Increase the volume gradually

• Play the note softly

Crescendo

• Gradually louder (<)

• Gradually softer (>)

• Suddenly louder (>)

• A musical pause (||)