1. AP Music Theory Mr. Silvagni
Performance Terms
AP Music Theory
Mr. Silvagni

2. Italian heritage
Most terms in music come from Italian, though there are a few in French and German
An exhaustive list of musical terms:
_English

3. Clarifying Terms Staying the same Changing slowly A small amount
L’istesso tempo – at the same tempo
Sempre – Always
Simile – In the same manner
Changing slowly
Poco a poco – little by little
A small amount
Non troppo – not too much
Poco – little
Un poco – a little

4. Clarifying terms A large amount Less More With Assai – very
Molto – very
Less
Meno – less
Mezzo – half
More
Più – more
With
Con - with

5. Dynamics
Dynamics indicate the volume and or mood of a piece of music. Here they are listed from softest to loudest
ppp – pianississimo
pp – pianissimo
p – piano
mp – mezzo piano
mf – mezzo forte
f – forte
ff – fortissimo
fff - fortississimo

6. Other dynamic terms Crescendo – increasing in loudness
Decrescendo – decreasing in loudness
Diminuendo – decreasing in loudness
fp – fortepiano – forte immediately followed by piano
rf or rfz – rinforzando – a sudden increase in loudness

7. Tempo
Tempo refers to the speed of music Initial markings are in Italian and may be followed by a metronome marking, e.g. M.M. = 120 (Maelzel Metronome), referring to beats per minute The metronome marking will also refer to which note is played at the listed speed, e.g. quarter note = 120

8. Italian Tempo Terms Fast tempo Medium tempo Slow tempo
Prestissimo – very quick
Presto – quick
Vivace – fast and lively; vivacious
Allegro – quick; lively; bright; merry
Medium tempo
Allegretto – moderately quick, but not as fast as allegro
Andantino – a little quicker than andante
Andante – moderately slow
Moderato – restrained or moderate
Slow tempo
Adagio – at east, slow
Adagio assai – very slow
Largo – broad; very slow; dignified
Larghetto – slower than largo
Lento – slow
Grave – slow and solemn

9. Other tempo terms Speeding up Slowing down Other tempo changes
Accelerando – to increase the tempo gradually
Stringendo – to press forward
Slowing down
Rallentando – to slow down gradually
Ritardanto – to slow down gradually
Ritenuto – to slow down suddenly
Other tempo changes
Rubato – to take out of the stated tempo

10. Articuations
Articulations mark how to play a note or phrase music. It may involve the attack, release, or the entire envelope of created sound.
fz – forzando – forced; played with a sudden accent
sf or sfz – sforzato – played with sudden emphasis
fzp – forzando piano – played with a sudden accent and immediately becoming piano

13. Style markings
Style markings identify the mood or expression used to play a part or whole piece of music
Amoroso – tender and affectionate
Animato – animated, lively
Calando – gradually softer and slower
Cantabile – in a singing style
Con anima – with life and animation
Con brio – with vigor and spirit
Con dolore – with sadness
Con forza – with force
Con fuoco – with fire, in a fiery manner
Con moto – with motion
Deciso – decisively
Détaché – detached
Dolce - sweetly

14. Style markings contd. Doloroso – sorrowfully Espressivo – expressively
Furioso – furious
Giocoso – humorous
Grandioso – with grandeur
Grazioso – gracefully
Legato – smooth and connected
Leggiero – lightly
Maestoso – majestically
Marcato – marked and stressed
Marzial – in the style of a march
Morendo – dying away
Pesante – heavy
Religioso – solemn, religious
Semplice – simple
Sostenuto – sustained
Soto voce – in an undertone
Staccato – short and detached
Tranquillo - tranquil

15. Additional Playing Indications
Arco – played with a bow
Arpeggio – notes of a chord played in a sequence
Caesura or cesura – complete break in sound/grand pause (railroad tracks)
Con sordino/senza sordino – play with mute/play without mute
D.C. al Coda – go back to the start and play until you reach To Coda – then jump to the coda
D.S. al Coda – go back to the sign and play until you reach To Coda – then jump to the coda
D.C. al Fine – go back to the start and play until you reach Fine
D.S. al Segno – go back to the sign and play until you reach Fine
Grace note – miniature note played quickly before another note
Octave sign (8va or 8vb) – signal to play notes octave higher or lower
Mordent – ornament indicating first 3 notes of a downward trill (G F G)
Pedal line – Ped.______^ - guide pianist or vibraphonist to use sustain pedal
Pizzicato – played by plucking
Tremolo – rapid repetition of the same note (roll)
Trill – ornament where two notes a second apart are alternated rapidly
Turn – ornament where you play one above and below written note (D C B C)

16. Additional terms
Alberti bass – accompaniment pattern using a three note chord broken typically as root-fifth-third-fifth
Cadenza – solo section, typically out of time, to show off
Opus – work number
Tre corde – release left piano pedal
Una corda – press left piano pedal
Vibrato – fluctuation of pitch