f forte loud cantabile in a singing style

p piano quiet / soft legato smoothly

mf mezzo forte quite loud staccato detached (hop)

mp mezzo piano quite quiet slur play all notes inside the slur legato

ff fortissimo very loud pause pause (rest) on the note

pp pianissimo very quiet espress. espressivo expressive

dim. diminuendo gradually get quieter dolce sweetly

decresc. decrescendo gradually get quieter grazioso gracefully

cresc. crescendo gradually get louder giocoso playfull, merry

Accent play the note louder sostenuto sustained

Fp Fortepiano loud, then immediately quiet semi-staccato a little detached

sFz / sF Sforzando forced, accented staccatissimo as short as possible

tenuto slightly more pressure (half accent) amore love

calando getting softer, dying away anima spirit, soul

morendo dying away forza force

perdendosi dying away delicate delicate

al niente to nothing leggiero light, nimble

estinto as soft as possible, lifeless mesto sad

rF / rFz rinforzando reinforcing tristamente triste. very sad, sorrowful

scherzando/scherzoso playful, joking

lento slow energico energetic

adagio slow agitato agitated

andante at a medium speed risoluto resolute (bold, strong)

moderato moderately brio vigour

allegretto quite fast deciso decisive (with determination)

allegro fast semplice simple

accel. accelerando gradually get faster ritmico rhythmically

rall. rallentando gradually get slower marziale in a marching style

rit. ritardando gradually get slower ad lib. ad libitum at choice (play freely)

grave very slow, solemn facile easy

largo slow, stately amabile amiable (pleasant)

larghetto quite slow affettuoso tenderly

andantino slightly faster than andante appassionato passionately

vivace/vivo lively, quick fuoco fire

presto very fast nobilmente nobly

allargando broadening sonoro resonant, with rich tone

maestoso majestic cantando singing

adagietto quite slow dolente sad, mournful

largamente broadly dolore grief

animato animated, lively lacrimoso sad

tranquillo calm piangevole plaintive, in the style of a lament

pesante heavy piacevole pleasant

animando becoming lively teneremente/teneremezza tenderly

stringendo gradually getting faster lusingando coaxing, sweetly and persuasive

alla breve in a minim beat, faster tempo smorzando dying away in tone and speed

rubato with some freedom of time

affrettando hurrying

veloce swift

volante flying fast

incalzando getting faster

doppio movimento double movement (twice as fast)

72 crotchet beats in a minute et and

and repeat marks un / une one

tempo speed/time (a tempo - in time) mais but

fine the end non not

D.C Da Capo repeat from the beginning tres very

D.S Dal Segno repeat from the sign peu little

8va (above or below) play an octave above or below assez enough

poco a little avec with

al, alla in the manner of sans without

con, col with plus more

ma but moins less

non not lent slow

meno less modere moderately

piu more vite fast

molto much vif lively

troppo too much cedez yield, relax the speed

senza without presser hurry

sim. Similie in the same way (similar) anime animated, lively

moto / mosso movement retenu held back

ben well ralentir slow down

sempre always douce sweet

tanto so much legerement light

subito suddenly en dehors prominent

comodo comfortable, convenient

primo / prima first und and

seconda second ein one

volta time aber but

come similar to, as nicht not

giusto exact sehr very

l’istesso the same wenig little

quasi as if, resembling mit with

possibile possible ohne without

sopra above immer always

sotto below wieder again

voce voice etwas rather

loco normal (play at normal pitch) langsam slow

lunga long breit broad

misura measure massig moderate

ossia or, alternatively schnell fast

pochettino poch. very little lebhaft lively

tosto swift, rapid frohlich cheerful, joyful

segue go straight on traurig sad

attacca go straight on ruhig peaceful

bewegt with movement, agitated

einfach simple

zart tender, delicate

suss sweet

ausdruck expression