For a general, non-specific list of terms, see Musical terminology.
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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. That period is when numerous musical indications were used extensively for the first time.
Italian terms and English translations
| Italian term | Literal translation | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| A cappella | in chapel style | Sung with no (instrumental) accompaniment, has much harmonizing |
| Aria | air | Piece of music, usually for a singer |
| Aria di sorbetto | sorbet air | A short solo performed by a secondary character in the opera |
| Arietta | little air | A short or light aria |
| Arioso | airy | A type of solo opera or operetta |
| Ballabile | danceable | (song) to be danced to |
| Battaglia | battle | An instrumental or vocal piece suggesting a battle |
| Bergamasca | from Bergamo | A peasant dance from Bergamo |
| Burletta | a little joke | A light comic or farcical opera |
| Cabaletta | from copola (couplet) | A two-part musical form |
| Cadenza | falling | A florid solo at the end of a performance |
| Cantata | sung | A piece for orchestra and singers |
| Capriccio | caprice | A lively piece, free in form, often used to show musical skill |
| Cavatina | small instrumental tone | A simple melody or song |
| Coda | tail | The end of a piece |
| Concerto | concert | A work for one or more solo instruments accompanied by an orchestra |
| Concertino | little concert | A short concerto; the solo instrument in a concerto |
| Concerto grosso | big concert | A Baroque form of concerto, with a group of solo instruments |
| Da capo aria | from the head aria | A three-section musical form |
| Dramma giocoso | jocular drama | A form of opera |
| Dramma per musica | drama for music | Libretto |
| Fantasia | fantasy | A musical composition or “idea” typified by improvisation |
| Farsa | farce | A one-act comical opera |
| Festa teatrale | theatrical party | A genre of opera |
| Fioritura | flowery | A highly embellished vocal line |
| Intermedio | intermediate | A short connecting instrumental movement – an intermezzo |
| Intermezzo | interval | A short connecting instrumental movement |
| Libretto | little book | A work containing the words to an opera, musical, or ballet |
| Melodramma | melodrama | A style of opera |
| Opera | work | A drama set to music for singers and instrumentalists |
| Opera buffa | humorous opera | A comic opera |
| Opera semiseria | semi-serious opera | A variety of opera |
| Opera seria | serious opera | An opera with a serious, esp. classical theme |
| Operetta | little opera | A variety of light opera |
| Oratorio | oratory | Large musical composition for orchestra, choir, and soloists |
| Pasticcio | pastiche | A musical piece containing works by different composers |
| Ripieno concerto | padding concert | A form of Baroque concerto with no solo parts |
| Serenata | Serenade | A song or composition in someone's honour. Originally, a musical greeting performed for a lover |
| Soggetto cavato | carved subject | A musical cryptogram, using coded syllables as a basis for the composition |
| Sonata | sounded | A composition for one or two instruments in sonata form |
| Verismo | realism | A genre of operas with scenarios based on contemporary everyday life |
Musical instruments
| Italian term | Literal translation | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| Campana | bell | A bell used in an orchestra; also campane "bells" |
| Cornetto | little horn | An old woodwind instrument |
| Fagotto | bundle | A bassoon, a woodwind instrument played with a double reed |
| Orchestra | orchestra, orig. Greek orkesthai "dance" | An ensemble of instruments |
| Piano(forte) | soft-loud | A keyboard instrument |
| Piccolo | little | A tiny woodwind instrument |
| Sordun | deaf, dull in sound | An archaic double-reed wind instrument |
| Timpani | drums | Large drums |
| Tuba | tube | A large brass instrument |
| Viola | viola, orig. Latin vitulari "be joyful" | A medium-sized stringed instrument |
| Viola d'amore | love viola | A tenor viol with no frets |
| Viola da braccio | arm viola | A stringed instrument held in the arm, such as a violin or viola |
| Viola da gamba | leg viola | A stringed instrument held between the legs |
| Violoncello | Violoncello was the original name for a cello. | A large stringed instrument |
Voices
| Italian term | Literal translation | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| Alto | high | Second-highest vocal line |
| Basso | low | Or "bass;" the lowest vocal line |
| Basso profondo | deep low | A very deep bass voice |
| Castrato | 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 melody |
| Contralto | against high | Alto, esp. a female alto |
| Falsetto | little false | A vocal register immediately above the modal voice range |
| Falsettone | Falsetto, sung using the usual techniques of modal voice register | |
| Leggiero tenor | See tenore di grazia | |
| Musico | musician | Originally, a trained musician; later, a castrato or female singer |
| Mezzo-soprano | middle-upper | Between soprano and alto |
| Passaggio | crossing | A vocal range |
| Soprano | upper | The highest vocal line |
| Soprano sfogato | unlimited soprano | A soprano who has extended her upper range beyond the usual range of a soprano |
| Spinto | pushed | A forceful voice, between the lyric and dramatic in weight |
| Spinto soprano | pushed soprano | A soprano whose voice, while normally of lyric weight and fluidity, can be pushed to a more forceful weight |
| Squillo | ringing | The resonant clarity of an operatic singer's voice |
| Tenore contraltino | A tenor voice capable of a slightly higher range of sustainable notes than usual | |
| Tenore di grazia or Leggiero tenor | tenor of grace or lightweight tenor | A lightweight, flexible tenor voice |
| Tessitura | texture | A singer's comfortable range |
Tempo
| Italian term | Literal translation | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| Accelerando | accelerating | Accelerating |
| Accompagnato | 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 composition |
| Affrettando | becoming hurried | Accelerating |
| Alla 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 louder |
| Allegro | joyful; lively and fast | Joyful; moderately fast tempo |
| Allegretto | a little bit joyful | Slightly less joyful than allegro (so slightly slower tempo) |
| Andante | walking | At a walking pace; flowing; moderately slow tempo |
| Andantino | a little bit walking | Less of a walking pace than andante (so slightly quicker) |
| A tempo | to time | Return to previous tempo |
| Fermata | held, stopped, orig. Latin firmo "make firm, fortify" | Holding or sustaining a note |
| Grave | grave, solemn | Slow and solemn tempo (slower than largo) |
| Largo | broad | Slow and dignified tempo |
| Largamente | broadly | Slow and dignified tempo |
| Larghetto | broad-ish | Slightly less dignified than largo (so slightly faster tempo) |
| Lento | slow | Slow tempo |
| Lentando | slowing | Decelerating, slowing down |
| L'istesso tempo | the same time | At the same tempo |
| Moderato | moderate | Moderate tempo |
| Mosso | moved, agitated | Agitated |
| Presto | prompt, quick; ready for action | Very fast |
| Prestissimo | very prompt, very quick | Very very fast (above 200 BPM) |
| Rallentando | slowing down | Decelerating |
| Ritardando | retarding | Decelerating |
| Tardo | slow, tardy | Slow tempo |
| Tempo | time | The speed of music; e.g. 120 BPM (beats per minute) |
| (Tempo) rubato | robbed | Free flowing and exempt from steady rhythm |
| Tenuto | sustained | Holding or sustaining a single note |
| Vivace | vivacious | Fast and lively tempo (quicker than allegro) |
Dynamics – volume
| Italian term | Literal translation | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| Calando | quietening | Becoming softer and slower |
| Crescendo | growing | Becoming louder |
| Decrescendo | shrinking | Becoming softer |
| Diminuendo | dwindling | Becoming softer |
| Forte | strong | Loud |
| Fortissimo | very strong | Very loud |
| Mezzo forte | half-strong | Moderately loud |
| Marcato | marked | A note played forcefully |
| Messa di voce | placing the voice | A style of singing involving changing volume while holding a single note |
| Piano | gentle | Soft |
| Pianissimo | very gentle | Very soft |
| Mezzo piano | half-gentle | Moderately soft |
| Sforzando | strained | Sharply accented |
| Stentato | in the manner of Stentor | Loud, boisterous |
| Tremolo | trembling | A rapid, repetitive variation in the volume or pitch of a note |
Moods
| Italian term | Literal translation | Musical definition |
|---|---|---|
| Affettuoso | with feeling | Tenderly |
| Agitato | agitated, moved | Excited, fast |
| Animato | animated | Animated, fast |
| Brillante | brilliant | Bright, radiant |
| Bruscamente | brusquely | Abruptly, bluntly |
| Cantabile | singable | In a singing style |
| Colossale | colossal | In a fashion which suggests immensity |
| Comodo | convenient | Comfortably, moderately |
| Con amore | with love | With love |
| Con brio | with brightness | Upbeat, usually contrasting previous music |
| Con fuoco | with fire | Passionate, enthusiastic |
| Con moto | with movement | Quick, with energy, spirited |
| Con spirito | with spirit | Vigorous, spirited |
| Deciso | firm, resolute | Decisive, determined |
| Dolce | sweet | Softly, sweetly |
| Drammatico | dramatic | Dramatic |
| Espressivo | expressive | Expressive |
| Feroce | ferocious | Fierce, heavy |
| Festoso | happy | Festive, jolly |
| Furioso | furious | Hasty, angry, intense |
| Giocoso | playful | Merry, spirited, playful |
| Grandioso | great, grandiose | Broad, noble, great |
| Grazioso | gracious, graceful | Graceful, charming |
| Lacrimoso | lachrymose, teary | Tearfully, sadly |
| Lamentoso | Plaintively, Sadly | Mournfully, with sorrow |
| Maestoso | majestic | Stately, broadly |
| Misterioso | mysterious | Mysteriously, secretively, enigmatic |
| Morendo | dying | Dying away |
| Pesante | heavy | Heavy, slowly, weightily |
| Risoluto | resolved | Resolved, decisive |
| Scherzando | playful, joking | Playful, lively |
| Solitario | lonely | Lonely, alone |
| Sotto (voce) | under-voice, subdued (voice) | Subdued, hushed |
| Sonore | loud, resonant | Full, broad |
| Semplicemente | simply | Simply |
| Slancio | passionately hurl or fling; lance | Enthusiastic |
| Tranquillo | calm, tranquil | Calm, soft, peaceful |
| Vivace | vivacious | Up-tempo, lively |
| Volante | flying | Fast, light |
Musical expression (general)
| Italian term | Literal translation | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Molto | 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") |
| Più | more | Comes before other terms; e.g. più 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
| Italian term | Literal translation | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| Lacuna | gap | A silent pause in a piece of music |
| Ossia | from o ("or") + sia ("that it be") | A secondary passage of music which may be played in place of the original |
| Ostinato | stubborn, obstinate | A repeated motif or phrase in a piece of music |
| Pensato | thought out | A composed imaginary note |
| Ritornello | little return | A recurring passage in a piece of Baroque music |
| Segue | it follows | A smooth movement from one passage to another with no pause |
| Stretto | tightened, strict | In a fugue, the repeating of a motif by a second voice before the first rendition is completed |
Directions
| Italian term | Literal translation | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| Attacca | attach, begin | Proceed to the next section without pause |
| Cambiare | change | Any change, such as to a new instrument |
| Da 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 musician |
| Sole | Group solo | A piece or performance to be played by a designated group |
Techniques
| Italian term | Literal translation | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| Acciaccatura | crunching | An extra, very fast grace note |
| Altissimo | very high | Very high |
| Appoggiatura | leaning, supporting | 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.) |
| 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 piece |
| Chiuso | closed | Calls for a horn to be muted by hand. |
| Coloratura | colouration | Elaborate ornamentation of a vocal line |
| Coperti | covered | Of a drum, muted with a cloth |
| Una corda | one string, cord | On a piano, played with the soft pedal depressed |
| Due 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 corda |
| Glissando | gliding, glossing | A sweeping glide from one pitch to another used for dramatic effect |
| Legato | tied | A series of notes played with a smooth connection between them |
| Col 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 detached |
| Pizzicato | 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 notes |
| Portato | carried | Played in a style between staccato and legato |
| Sforzando | forcing | Playing with strong, marked emphasis |
| Scordatura | discord | Alternate tuning (of strings) |
| Con sordino | with sourdine (mute) | With mute applied, esp. to string instruments |
| Senza sordino | without sourdine (mute) | With mute removed |
| Spiccato | separated, distinct; standing out | With a stringed instrument, played by bouncing the bow lightly on the strings |
| Staccato | detached | A form of musical articulation in which notes are distinct and separated from each other by short gaps |
| Staccatissimo | very detached | Forcefully exaggerated staccato |
| Tutti | all | Played or sung by the entire ensemble, rather than by just a soloist or principal player |
| Vibrato | vibrating | Played with rapid repetitive variation or undulation in pitch |
| Colla voce | with the voice | (For accompanists) In time with the singer's text, especially when slowing for textual effect |
Roles
| Italian term | Literal translation | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| Banda | band | Small music ensemble used as a supplement to the orchestra in an opera |
| Comprimario | with the first | Supporting role |
| Concertino | little concert | 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 Italian opera, and the number of scenes, arias, etc. that they were entitled to expect. The convenienze are referred to in the Donizetti opera Le convenienze ed inconvenienze teatrali. |
| Coro | choir | Ensemble of singers |
| Diva | divine one (fem.) | Leading female singer |
| Prima donna | first lady | Leading female role |
| Primo uomo | first man | Leading male role |
| Ripieno | refilling or stuffing | The larger group of musicians in a concerto grosso |
Criticism
| Italian term | Literal translation | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| Bel canto | beautiful singing | Any fine singing, esp. that popular in 18th- and 19th-century Italian opera |
| Bravura | skill | A performance of extraordinary virtuosity |
| Bravo | 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
| Italian term | Literal translation | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| Maestro | master, teacher | Conductor, music director, music teacher; also composer and other eminent musicians and singers |
| Maestro collaboratore | collaborating master | Assistant conductor |
| Maestro sostituto | substitute/deputy master | Assistant conductor |
| Maestro suggeritore | master suggester/prompter | Prompter |
| Stagione | season | A variety of formal organisation of players and crew in the staging of operas |
See also
References
- 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 0-19-869164-5
External links
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