Many musical terms are in Italian because, in Europe, the vast majority of the most important early composers from the Renaissance to the Baroque period were Italian.[citation needed] That period is when numerous musical indications were used extensively for the first time.[1]
Abbreviated as D.C., informs the performer to go back to the beginning (capo) (finishing where the part is marked fine).
Dal Segno
from the sign
Abbreviated as D.S., informs the performer to repeat a specific section marked by a sign (segno).
Divisi
divided
Instructs one section to divide into two or more separate sections, each playing a separate part. Often these separate parts are written on the same staff.
Oppure
from o ("or") + pure ("also")
Informs the player of alternative ways to play a passage. See Ossia.
A type of ornament that creates a "yearning" effect
Arco
bow
Cancels col legno and pizzicato. (In any string passage, arco is usually expected, as it is the "default" approach; it is only ever written at the end of col legno or pizzicato passages.)
Smaller, more virtuosic group of musicians in a concerto grosso
Convenienze
conveniences
Rules relating to the ranking of singers in opera (primo, secondo, comprimario) in 19th-century Italianopera, and the number of scenes, arias, etc. that they were entitled to expect.[2] The convenienze are referred to in the Donizetti opera Le convenienze ed inconvenienze teatrali.
A cry of congratulation to a male singer or performer. (Masc. pl. bravi; fem. sing. brava; fem. pl. brave.) The use of ! after a written expression of "bravo/a/i/e(!)" strongly emphasizes it.
^Nuccio, Giovanni. "Why Is Italian the Language of Music?". Happy Languages. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
^Warrack, John and West, Ewan (1992), The Oxford Dictionary of Opera, 782 pages, ISBN0-19-869164-5
External links
8notes glossary
January 07, 2023
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For a general non specific list of terms see Musical terminology This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources List of Italian musical terms used in English news newspapers books scholar JSTOR June 2020 Learn how and when to remove this template message Many musical terms are in Italian because in Europe the vast majority of the most important early composers from the Renaissance to the Baroque period were Italian citation needed That period is when numerous musical indications were used extensively for the first time 1 Contents 1 Italian terms and English translations 2 Musical instruments 3 Voices 4 Tempo 5 Dynamics volume 6 Moods 7 Musical expression general 8 Patterns within the musical score 9 Directions 10 Techniques 11 Roles 12 Criticism 13 Musical direction and staging 14 See also 15 References 16 External linksItalian terms and English translations EditItalian term Literal translation DefinitionA cappella in chapel style Sung with no instrumental accompaniment has much harmonizingAria air Piece of music usually for a singerAria di sorbetto sorbet air A short solo performed by a secondary character in the operaArietta little air A short or light ariaArioso airy A type of solo opera or operettaBallabile danceable song to be danced toBattaglia battle An instrumental or vocal piece suggesting a battleBergamasca from Bergamo A peasant dance from BergamoBurletta a little joke A light comic or farcical operaCabaletta from copola couplet A two part musical formCadenza falling A florid solo at the end of a performanceCantata sung A piece for orchestra and singersCapriccio caprice A lively piece free in form often used to show musical skillCavatina small instrumental tone A simple melody or songCoda tail The end of a pieceConcerto concert A work for one or more solo instruments accompanied by an orchestraConcertino little concert A short concerto the solo instrument in a concertoConcerto grosso big concert A Baroque form of concerto with a group of solo instrumentsDa capo aria from the head aria A three section musical formDramma giocoso jocular drama A form of operaDramma per musica drama for music LibrettoFantasia fantasy A musical composition or idea typified by improvisationFarsa farce A one act comical operaFesta teatrale theatrical party A genre of operaFioritura flowery A highly embellished vocal lineIntermedio intermediate A short connecting instrumental movement an intermezzoIntermezzo interval A short connecting instrumental movementLibretto little book A work containing the words to an opera musical or balletMelodramma melodrama A style of operaOpera work A drama set to music for singers and instrumentalistsOpera buffa humorous opera A comic operaOpera semiseria semi serious opera A variety of operaOpera seria serious opera An opera with a serious esp classical themeOperetta little opera A variety of light operaOratorio oratory Large musical composition for orchestra choir and soloistsPasticcio pastiche A musical piece containing works by different composersRipieno concerto padding concert A form of Baroque concerto with no solo partsSerenata Serenade A song or composition in someone s honour Originally a musical greeting performed for a loverSoggetto cavato carved subject A musical cryptogram using coded syllables as a basis for the compositionSonata sounded A composition for one or two instruments in sonata formVerismo realism A genre of operas with scenarios based on contemporary everyday lifeMusical instruments EditItalian term Literal translation DefinitionCampana bell A bell used in an orchestra also campane bells Cornetto little horn An old woodwind instrumentFagotto bundle A bassoon a woodwind instrument played with a double reedOrchestra orchestra orig Greek orkesthai dance An ensemble of instrumentsPiano forte soft loud A keyboard instrumentPiccolo little A tiny woodwind instrumentSordun deaf dull in sound An archaic double reed wind instrumentTimpani drums Large drumsTuba tube A large brass instrumentViola viola orig Latin vitulari be joyful A medium sized stringed instrumentViola d amore love viola A tenor viol with no fretsViola da braccio arm viola A stringed instrument held in the arm such as a violin or violaViola da gamba leg viola A stringed instrument held between the legsVioloncello Violoncello was the original name for a cello A large stringed instrumentVoices EditItalian term Literal translation DefinitionAlto high Second highest vocal lineBasso low Or bass the lowest vocal lineBasso profondo deep low A very deep bass voiceCastrato castrated A male singer castrated before puberty so as to be able to sing soprano now sung by women conventional countertenors or sopranisti Coloratura soprano colouring soprano A soprano specialised in complex ornamented melodyContralto against high Alto esp a female altoFalsetto little false A vocal register immediately above the modal voice rangeFalsettone Falsetto sung using the usual techniques of modal voice registerLeggiero tenor See tenore di graziaMusico musician Originally a trained musician later a castrato or female singerMezzo soprano middle upper Between soprano and altoPassaggio crossing A vocal rangeSoprano upper The highest vocal lineSoprano sfogato unlimited soprano A soprano who has extended her upper range beyond the usual range of a sopranoSpinto pushed A forceful voice between the lyric and dramatic in weightSpinto soprano pushed soprano A soprano whose voice while normally of lyric weight and fluidity can be pushed to a more forceful weightSquillo ringing The resonant clarity of an operatic singer s voiceTenore contraltino A tenor voice capable of a slightly higher range of sustainable notes than usualTenore di grazia or Leggiero tenor tenor of grace or lightweight tenor A lightweight flexible tenor voiceTessitura texture A singer s comfortable rangeTempo EditItalian term Literal translation DefinitionAccelerando accelerating AcceleratingAccompagnato accompanied The accompaniment must follow the singer who can speed up or slow down at will Adagio ad agio at ease Slow and easy but not as slow as largo Adagietto a bit at ease 1 Slightly less easy than adagio so slightly faster 2 a short adagio compositionAffrettando becoming hurried AcceleratingAlla marcia as a march In strict tempo at a marching pace e g 120 BPM Allargando broadening Slowing down and broadening becoming more stately and majestic possibly louderAllegro joyful lively and fast Joyful moderately fast tempoAllegretto a little bit joyful Slightly less joyful than allegro so slightly slower tempo Andante walking At a walking pace flowing moderately slow tempoAndantino a little bit walking Less of a walking pace than andante so slightly quicker A tempo to time Return to previous tempoFermata held stopped orig Latin firmo make firm fortify Holding or sustaining a noteGrave grave solemn Slow and solemn tempo slower than largo Largo broad Slow and dignified tempoLargamente broadly Slow and dignified tempoLarghetto broad ish Slightly less dignified than largo so slightly faster tempo Lento slow Slow tempoLentando slowing Decelerating slowing downL istesso tempo the same time At the same tempoModerato moderate Moderate tempoMosso moved agitated AgitatedPresto prompt quick ready for action Very fastPrestissimo very prompt very quick Very very fast above 200 BPM Rallentando slowing down DeceleratingRitardando retarding DeceleratingTardo slow tardy Slow tempoTempo time The speed of music e g 120 BPM beats per minute Tempo rubato robbed Free flowing and exempt from steady rhythmTenuto sustained Holding or sustaining a single noteVivace vivacious Fast and lively tempo quicker than allegro Dynamics volume EditItalian term Literal translation DefinitionCalando quietening Becoming softer and slowerCrescendo growing Becoming louderDecrescendo shrinking Becoming softerDiminuendo dwindling Becoming softerForte strong LoudFortissimo very strong Very loudMezzo forte half strong Moderately loudMarcato marked A note played forcefullyMessa di voce placing the voice A style of singing involving changing volume while holding a single notePiano gentle SoftPianissimo very gentle Very softMezzo piano half gentle Moderately softSforzando strained Sharply accentedStentato in the manner of Stentor Loud boisterousTremolo trembling A rapid repetitive variation in the volume or pitch of a toneMoods EditItalian term Literal translation DefinitionAffettuoso with feeling TenderlyAgitato agitated moved Excited and fastAnimato animated Animated fastBrillante brilliant Brilliant radiant brightBruscamente brusquely Brusquely abruptlyCantabile singable In a singing styleColossale colossal In a fashion which suggests immensityComodo convenient Comfortably moderatelyCon amore with love With loveCon brio with power With vigourCon fuoco with fire With fiery manner hasty powerfulCon moto with movement With movement with energy spiritedCon spirito with spirit With spiritDolce sweet Softly sweetlyDrammatico dramatic DramaticEspressivo expressive ExpressiveFeroce ferocious Fierce heavyFestoso happy festive jollyFurioso furious Angry hastyGiocoso playful Merry spirited playfulGrandioso great grandiose Broad noble greatGrazioso gracious graceful Graceful or charmingLacrimoso lachrymose teary Tearfully sadlyMaestoso majestic Stately broadMisterioso mysterious Mysteriously secretively enigmaticPesante heavy Heavy slowly weightilyRisoluto resolved Resolved decisiveScherzando playful joking Playful jokingSolitario lonely Lonely aloneSotto voce under voice subdued voice Subdued hushedSonore loud resonant Full broadSemplicemente simply SimplySlancio passionately hurl or fling lance EnthusiasticTranquillo calm tranquil Calm soft peacefulVivace vivacious Up tempo livelyVolante flying speedy but lightMusical expression general EditItalian term Literal translation UsageMolto very much Comes before other terms e g molto allegro very cheerful Assai very aplenty Comes after other terms e g allegro assai very cheerful Piu more Comes before other terms e g piu mosso more moved agitated Poco little Comes before other terms e g poco diminuendo a little diminishing poco a poco little by little Slowly but steadily Comes before other terms e g poco a poco crescendo increasing little by little ma non tanto but not so much Comes after other terms e g adagio ma non tanto not quite at ease ma non troppo but not too much Comes after other terms e g allegro ma non troppo not too joyful Meno less Comes before other terms such as meno mosso less moved agitated Subito suddenly quickly Comes before or after other terms e g subito fortissimo suddenly very loud Patterns within the musical score EditItalian term Literal translation DefinitionLacuna gap A silent pause in a piece of musicOssia from o or sia that it be A secondary passage of music which may be played in place of the originalOstinato stubborn obstinate A repeated motif or phrase in a piece of musicRitornello little return A recurring passage in a piece of Baroque musicSegue it follows A smooth movement from one passage to another with no pauseStretto tightened strict In a fugue the repeating of a motif by a second voice before the first rendition is completedPensato thought out A composed imaginary noteDirections EditItalian term Literal translation DefinitionAttacca attach begin Proceed to the next section without pauseCambiare change Any change such as to a new instrumentDa Capo al fine from the beginning to the fine Abbreviated as D C informs the performer to go back to the beginning capo finishing where the part is marked fine Dal Segno from the sign Abbreviated as D S informs the performer to repeat a specific section marked by a sign segno Divisi divided Instructs one section to divide into two or more separate sections each playing a separate part Often these separate parts are written on the same staff Oppure from o or pure also Informs the player of alternative ways to play a passage See Ossia Solo alone A piece or performance to be played by a single musicianSole Group solo A piece or performance to be played by a designated groupTechniques EditItalian term Literal translation DefinitionAcciaccatura crunching An extra very fast grace noteAltissimo very high Very highAppoggiatura leaning supporting A type of ornament that creates a yearning effectArco bow Cancels col legno and pizzicato In any string passage arco is usually expected as it is the default approach it is only ever written at the end of col legno or pizzicato passages Arpeggio harp like A chord with the notes spread out in time rather than sounded simultaneously Basso continuo continuous bass Continuous bass accompaniment by chordal instrument s and bass instrument s see figured bass A bocca chiusa in closed mouth Wordless humming in a choral pieceChiuso closed Calls for a horn to be muted by hand Coloratura colouration Elaborate ornamentation of a vocal lineCoperti covered Of a drum muted with a clothUna corda one string cord On a piano played with the soft pedal depressedDue corde two strings On a piano played with the soft pedal depressed For why both terms exist see Piano Pedals Tre corde or tutte le corde three strings or all the strings Cancels una cordaGlissando gliding glossing A sweeping glide from one pitch to another used for dramatic effectLegato tied A series of notes played with a smooth connection between themCol legno with the wood Calls for a bowed instrument s strings to be struck with the wood of the bow rather than drawn across with the hair of the bow Martellato hammered Of notes strongly accented and detachedPizzicato pinched plucked Calls for a bowed instrument s strings to be plucked with the fingers Portamento carrying Playing with a sliding of pitch between two notesPortato carried Played in a style between staccato and legatoSforzando forcing Playing with strong marked emphasisScordatura discord Alternate tuning of strings Con sordino with sourdine mute With mute applied esp to string instrumentsSenza sordino without sourdine mute With mute removedSpiccato separated distinct standing out With a stringed instrument played by bouncing the bow lightly on the stringsStaccato detached A form of musical articulation in which notes are distinct and separated from each other by short gapsStaccatissimo very detached Forcefully exaggerated staccatoTutti all Played or sung by the entire ensemble rather than by just a soloist or principal playerVibrato vibrating Played with rapid repetitive variation or undulation in pitchColla voce with the voice For accompanists In time with the singer s text especially when slowing for textual effectRoles EditItalian term Literal translation DefinitionBanda band Small music ensemble used as a supplement to the orchestra in an operaComprimario with the first Supporting roleConcertino little concert Smaller more virtuosic group of musicians in a concerto grossoConvenienze conveniences Rules relating to the ranking of singers in opera primo secondo comprimario in 19th century Italian opera and the number of scenes arias etc that they were entitled to expect 2 The convenienze are referred to in the Donizetti opera Le convenienze ed inconvenienze teatrali Coro choir Ensemble of singersDiva divine one fem Leading female singerPrima donna first lady Leading female rolePrimo uomo first man Leading male roleRipieno refilling or stuffing The larger group of musicians in a concerto grossoCriticism EditItalian term Literal translation DefinitionBel canto beautiful singing Any fine singing esp that popular in 18th and 19th century Italian operaBravura skill A performance of extraordinary virtuosityBravo skillful A cry of congratulation to a male singer or performer Masc pl bravi fem sing brava fem pl brave The use of after a written expression of bravo a i e strongly emphasizes it Musical direction and staging EditItalian term Literal translation DefinitionMaestro master teacher Conductor music director music teacher also composer and other eminent musicians and singersMaestro collaboratore collaborating master Assistant conductorMaestro sostituto substitute deputy master Assistant conductorMaestro suggeritore master suggester prompter PrompterStagione season A variety of formal organisation of players and crew in the staging of operasSee also EditMusical terminology Sheet musicReferences Edit Nuccio Giovanni Why Is Italian the Language of Music Happy Languages Retrieved 25 November 2020 Warrack John and West Ewan 1992 The Oxford Dictionary of Opera 782 pages ISBN 0 19 869164 5External links Edit8notes glossary Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title List of Italian musical terms used in English amp oldid 1124899669 ma non tanto, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
