Glossary of Italian musical terms.

-  A  -

A TEMPO = In time (back to previous speed).
ALLARGANDO  -  Broadening. eg. Poco Allargando - Broadening a little.
ALLEGRETTO - Fairly quick, faster than andante and usually slower than allegro.
ALLEGRO - Cheerful & lively - generally taken as fast, but not as fast as vivace or presto.
ALLEGRO ENEGICO - Energetically fast, cheerful and lively.

ALLEGRO MAESTOSO - Majestic, but cheerful and lively.

ALLEGRO MODERATO - Moderately fast.
ALLEGRO NON TROPPO - Fast, cheerful and lively, but not too much.
ANDANTE - Walking speed; moderately slow.
ANDANTE MODERATO -  Walking moderately i.e. suggestion of speed.
ANIMATO - animated; lively

-  C  -

CRESCENDO (cresc.)  - Gradually getting louder.

-  D  -

DIMINUENDO  (dim.)  -  Gradually getting softer.
DOLCE  -  Sweetly.
DOLCISSIMO  -  As sweet as possible.

-  L  -

LEGATO - Smoothly. Indicates no break between notes. eg. Pui Legato - More smoothly.
LENTO - Slow

-  P  -

PIU - More. eg. Pui Legato More smoothly.
POCHETTINO )poch.) - Rather little.
POCO - A little. eg Poco allargando - Broadening a little.
POCO A POCO - Little by little.
POCO PIU ALLEGRO - A little more lively, cheerful generally fast.

-  M  -

MA - But. eg. Ma dolce e legato - But sweetly and smoothly.
MARCARTO (marc.) - Emphatic; accented.
MAESTOSO - Majestic.
MENO - Less. eg Meno forte - Less loud.
MODERATO - Moderate speed eg. allegro moderato = moderately
MOLTO Very;much. eg Molto ritmico - Very rhythmically.

-  R  -

RALLENTANDO (rall.) - Gradually getting slower.
RISOLUTO - bold;strong
RITMICO - Rhythmically

-  S  -

SEMPRE - Always; i.e sempre piano - always soft.
SENZA - Without. eg, Senza misura = freely (not in time)

-  T  -

TUTTI  - All; everyone.