A. In the diatonic major scale of C, A is
the sixth tone. Likewise in the natural
minor scale (relative of C maj.) it is the
first note.
A. (It.) By, from, for, to, at, in.
Ab (Ger.) Off (in organ-music.)
A ballata (IL) In ballad-style.
A cappella (It.). Vocal music unaccompanied.
A capriccio (It.) In a capricious style.
Accelerando (It.) Gradually increasing
the rate of speed.
Accent. Emphasis upon a certain tone,
chord, or beat.
Accessory notes. Those notes situated
one degree above, and one degree below the principal note of a turn.
The upper note of a trill is also called the
accessory or auxiliary note.
Acciaccatura (It.) A very short grace
note; an accessory note is placed before
the principal note, the accent being on
the principal note.
The acciaccatura is distinguished by a
light diagonal line through note hook.
See Appoggiatura.
Accidentals. All signs for raising or depressing notes that are not found in
the signature.
Accompaniment. A separate part or parts,
for voices or instruments added to a
solo or concerted piece. An accompaniment should always be subservient to the chief part.
Accord (Fr.) A chord, consonance.
Accordion. A musical instrument, the
tone of which is produced by the inspiration and respiration of a pair of
bellows acting upon metallic reeds.
Acht (Ger.) Eight.
Acoustics. The science of sound.
Action. The mechanism of an organ or
pianoforte.
Adagietto (It.) Not so slow as Adagio.
Adagio (It.) Slowly; also a name given
to a movement written in this time.
Adagio assai (It.) Very slowly.
Adagio cantabile (It.) Very slow and
sustained, as if being sung.
A deux (Fr.) For two instruments or
voices.
A deux mains (Fr.) For two hands.
Adjunct notes. Unaccented auxiliary
notes.
Ad libitum (Lat.) At will-Passages so
marked, the time may be altered at the
discretion of the performer, also an
omission of a part, if desired.
A dur (Ger.) A major.
Aeolian Harp. A stringed instrument so
constructed as to give forth musical
sounds when exposed to a current of air.
Agitato (It.) An agitated or restless style
of playing or singing.
Agnus Dei (Lat.) One of the parts of a
Mass.
Air. A tune.
Air varie (Fr.) Air with variations.
Ais (Ger.) “A” sharp.
Ais dur (Gen) “A" sharp major.
Akkord (Ger.) A chord.
Alberti Bass. A bass consisting of broken
chords.
Album leaf. A short and simple piece.
Al fine (It.) To the end.
All’, Alla (It.) To the. in the, at the. etc.;
in the style of, like.
Alla breve. 4-4 time at a higher rate of
speed and counted as 2-2.
Alla marcia (It.) In march style.
Allargando (It.) Growing broader, i. e.,
louder and slower.
Alle (Ger.) All: alle Instrumente, all the
instruments.
Allegramente (It.) Gaily, joyfully.
Allegretto (It.) A little slower than
Allegro.
Allegrissimo (It.) A little faster than
Allegro.
Allegro (It.) A high rate of speed, though
not so fast as Presto. The word is occasionally employed to describe a whole
movement of a quartet, sonata, or symphony.
Allegro agitato (It.) Fast in an excited manner.
Allegro con brio. Fast and with spirit.
Allegro con moto. Fast, with more
movement.
Allegro con spirito. Fast and spirited.
Allegro ma non troppo. Fast but not
too much so.
Allegro moderato. Moderately fast.
Allegro molto. Very fast.
Allegro risoluto. Fast and resolutely.
Allegro vivace. Fast and vivaciously.
Alleluia (Lat.) An invitation to praise.
Allemande (F r.) A German dance in
3-4 time, like the Landler.
Al loco (It.) A term which is used to
counter-order a previous direction, to
play an octave higher or lower. A direction to a violinist to return from a
shift to his previous position.
All’ ottava (It.) “At the octave;” meaning “play the notes an octave higher
than written.” The sign 8: is usually employed.
All’ unisono (It.) In unison (or octaves).
Al segno (It.) Return to the sign.
Alto (It.) Originally applied to high male
voices, now generally to the lowest
female voice. Also applied to the viola.
Alto Clef. The C clef on the third line,
used for the viola, alto trombone, and
for the alto voice.
Amabile (It.) Tenderly, gently.
Ame (Fr.) Sound post of a violin.
A mezza voce (It.) In a subdued tone.
A moll (Ger.) “A” minor,
Amore, con (It.) With love, affection.
Amorosamente (It.) Tenderly, amourously.
Amoroso (It.) Amorous, loving.
An (Ger.) On; to.
Ancora (It.) Once more, encore.
Andante (It.) Movement in moderate
time.
Andante affettuoso.
ness.
Andante cantabile. Slowly and in a singing manner.
Andante con moto. Slow, but with a little motion.
Andante grazioso. Slow and graceful.
Andante maestoso. Slow and with majesty.
Andante non troppo. Moderately, but not
too slow.
Andante pastorale. Slow and in pastoral
simplicity.
Andante sostenuto (It.) Slow, and sustained.
Andantino (It.) Literally a little slower
than Andante, but unfortunately interpreted in opposite ways and is now
generally used as meaning faster than
Andante.
Anfanger (Ger.)) A beginner.
Anhang (Ger.) A coda; a postscript.
Anima, con. (It.) With spirit and animation.
Animato (It.) Animated; lively.
Animoso (It.) In an animated manner;
lively, energetic.
Anmuthig (Ger.) Agreeable. sweet.
Ansatz (Ger.) Attack. Adjustment of
the lips of a wind instrument player,
also adjustment of the mouth to the
position required for the production of
a vocal phrase.
Anschlag (Ger.) Touch, as applied to
piano and other keyed instruments.
Anschwellen (Ger.) To increase in loudness; crescendo.
Antecedent (1) A phrase proposed for
imitation. (2) The subject of a fugue.
Anthem. A composition for voices, with
or without instrumental accompaniment, enjoined by the Ritual of the
Anglican Church.
Anwachsend (Ger.) Swelling; crescendo.
Appassionamento (It.) With strong passion or emotion.
Appassionata (It.) With feeling, passion
or emotion.
Appoggiatura (It.) A note leant upon in
singing or playing, applied to beats and
grace notes, hence a leaning note, grace
note, note of embellishment.
A punta d’arco (It.) With the point of
the bow.
A punto (It.) In exact time.
A quatre mains (Fr.) For four hands.
Arabesque or Arabesk. Ornamented; embellished.
Arcato (It.) Played with the bow.
Archet (Fr.) A violin bow.
Arco (It.) A violin bow.
Ardente (It.) With fire.
Ardore (It.) Ardor, warmth.
Aria (It.) An air; a song; a tune; sung
by a single voice either with or without
an accompaniment.
Aria buffa (It.) A comic or humorous
song.
Aria cantabile (It.) An air in a graceful
and flowing style.
Aria concertante (It.) An air in the concert style.
Aria di bravura (It.) A melody with florid, bold and energetic passages permiting freedom of execution.
Arietta (It.), Ariette (Fr.), Ariettina (It.)
A short air or melody.
Arioso (It.) In the style of an aria, sometimes containing recitative passages. In instrumental music, “in a singing style.”
Armonioso (It.) Harmonious.
Arpa (It.) The harp.
Arpa doppia (It.) The double action
harp.
Arpeggiando (It.), Arpeggiato (It.) Music played arpeggio, in imitation of the
harp.
Arpeggiare (It.) To play upon the harp.
Arpeggio (It.) In the style of a harp. A
term applied to the notes of a chord
when struck consecutively. In pianoforte music a waved line is drawn be-
side a chord intended to be played arpeggio.
Arrangement. A selection or adaptation
of the parts of a composition, to fit them
for performance by other voices or instruments than those originally designed.
Arsis (Greek). Up-beat.
Articolato (It.) Articulated.
Articulation. The art of distinct pronunciation.
As (Ger.) “A" flat.
As dur (Ger.) Key A flat major.
As moll (Ger.) Key of A flat minor.
Assai (It.) Very, enough, sufficient.
Assez (Fr.) Enough; rather.
A-string. The 2nd string of a violin; the
1st of a viola, or ’cello; the 3d of a
double bass; the 5th of a guitar.
A tempo (It.) In time.
Attacca (It.) Go on. Begin the next.
Attacca subito (It.) Commence at once.
Attack. A firm entry of voices or instruments at a leading point.
Attendant keys. Relatives keys. Attendant keys in a scale are the relative
minor or major, the dominant and subdominant and their relative minors or
majors.
Aubade (Fr.) Morning music; the opposite of Serenade, evening music.
Aufgeregt (Gen) With agitation.
Aufgeweckt (Ger.) Brisk, lively.
Aufschwung (Ger.) Soaring, elevation.
Augmented. (1) Any interval greater
than perfect or major. (2) A theme
written in notes of greater value than
in its original form.
Augmented Sixth Chord. Called also extreme sharp sixth.
Ausdrucksvoll (Ger.) With expression.
Ausgabe (Ger.) Edition.
Authentic cadence. A perfect cadence;
a final close, in which the common
chord of the tonic is immediately preceded by the common chord of the
dominant; the progression of the dominant to the tonic.
Auxiliary notes. Notes not essential to
the harmony or melody, introduced for
the sake of giving freedom of motion.
Auxiliary scales. The scales of relative
or attendant keys.
Avec (FL) With.
Ave Maria (Lat.) The angel's salutation
of the Blessed Virgin Mary, used in the
Roman Catholic Church.