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Italian Musical Terms. The majority of musical terms are in Italian, so this page has quite a long list. The other common languages for musical terms are German and French. Some of the words below have an audio file attached so you can hear how it is pronounced. Just click on the speaker icon.
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In this article, I’ll go through the Italian music terms we see the most in sheet music – especially in violin music – including dynamics, tempo, characteristics, and directions. So let’s talk about what these words are, their definitions, and why they’re there!
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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]
Italian TermLiteral TranslationDefinitionin chapel styleSung with no (instrumental) ...airPiece of music, usually for a singersorbet airA short solo performed by a secondary ...little airA short or light aria- Tempo
- Dynamics
- Techniques
- Moods
- Repeats
- General
List of tempo markings. The specified number of beats-per-minute (BPM) is only a general guide. In modern music, a metronome mark indicating the number of BPM (such as ♩= 120) may supplement or replace the tempo marking.
List of dynamic markings. The markings indicate the relative variation in loudness and do not refer to specific volume levels. Contrary to other italian markings, dynamic markings are usually written below the staff or centered between the two staves in the grand staff.
List of common terms for playing techniques. The terms instruct the performer to use a certain playing technique in order to produce the desired sound.
List of common mood terms. The terms help the performer to capture the mood of a piece through variations in tempo, dynamics and articulation.
List of directions for repeats. The directions are used as navigation markers to instruct the performer to repeat a certain section of the piece.
List of general terms. The terms are commonly used in conjunction with other terms, such as allegro molto (very fast) and con amore(with love).
Sep 6, 2021 · Struggle to remember the entire dictionary of music terms? From adagio to waltz, here is a comprehensive guide to Italian musical terms and other terminology.
Jan 7, 2005 · Most of the defined terms are Italian (see also Italian musical terms used in English), in accordance with the Italian origins of many European musical conventions. Sometimes, the special musical meanings of these phrases differ from the original or current Italian meanings.
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Jul 1, 2021 · Some Italian music terms, such as "tempo," "adagio," "allegretto," and "rallentando," are solely used when writing or reading music. Others, though, such as "concerto," "piano," "soprano," and "opera," were so popular that they made it from the original Italian into our common musical lexicon.
