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Term
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Definition
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a tempo
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return to the previous (not original) tempo
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accelerando
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becoming quicker
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accent
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stressed note or chord
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ad libitum
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at the liberty of the performer
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adagio
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a slow tempo (between andante and largo)
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agitato
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agitated
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alla
|
in the manner of
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allargando
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broadening, becoming slower
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allegretto
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fairly fast (a little slower than allegro)
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allegro
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fast
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andante
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moderately slow; at a walking pace
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andantino
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a little faster than andante
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animato
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lively; animated
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arco
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for stringed instruments: resume bowing after a pizzicato passage
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assai
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much, very much
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attacca
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proceed without a break
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ben
|
well
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bewegt
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agitated, excited (in German)
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blues scale
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a major scale in which the 3rd, the 7th, and sometimes the 5th degrees are lowered
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brillante
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brilliant
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cantabile
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in a singing style
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cédez
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yield; hold the tempo back (in French)
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clusters
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chords consisting of a combination of at least three adjacent notes of any scale
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col
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to play with something (example: play with the wood of the bow)
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comodo
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at a comfortable, easy tempo
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con
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to play with a particular quality or effect
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con brio
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with vigour or spirit
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con espressione
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with expression
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con fuoco
|
with fire
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con grazia
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with grace
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con moto
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with movement
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con pedale
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with pedal
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con sordino
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with mute
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crescendo
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becoming louder
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da capo
|
from the beginning
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dal segno
|
from the sign
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decrescendo
|
becoming softer (decresc.)
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diminuendo
|
becoming softer (dim.)
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dolce
|
sweet
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dolente
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sad
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e
|
and
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espressivo
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expression, with expression
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fermata
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pause; hold note or rest longer than written value
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fine
|
the end
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forte
|
loud
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fortepiano
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loud, then suddenly soft
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fortissimo
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very loud
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giocoso
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humorous, joyful
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grandioso
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grand, grandoise
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grave
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slow and solemn
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grazioso
|
graceful
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langsam
|
slow (in German)
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largamente
|
broadly
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larghetto
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not as slow as largo
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largo
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very slow and broad
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legato
|
smoothly
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léger
|
light, lightly (in French)
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leggerio
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light, nimble, quick
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lentement
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slowly (in French)
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lento
|
slow
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l'istesso tempo
|
the same tempo
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loco
|
return to normal register
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ma
|
but
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maestoso
|
majestic
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mano destra
|
right hand, (M.D.)
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mano sinistra
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left hand, (M.S.)
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marcato
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marked or stressed
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martellato
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strongly accented, hammered
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mässig
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moderate, moderately (in German)
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meno
|
less
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meno mosso
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less movement, slower
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Term
|
Definition
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mesto
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sad, mournful
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mezzo forte
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moderately loud
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mezzo piano
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moderately soft
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mit
|
with (in German)
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mit Ausdruck
|
with expression (in German)
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M.M.
|
metronome marking (Maelzel's Metronome)
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moderato
|
at a moderate tempo
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modéré
|
at a moderate tempo (in French)
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molto
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much, very
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morendo
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dying, fading away
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mouvement
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tempo, motion (in French)
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non
|
not
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non troppo
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not too much
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ottava
|
the interval of an octave
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octatonic scale
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an eight note scale consisting of a alternation of tones and semitones
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pedale
|
pedal
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pentatonic scale
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a five note scale (one example is found on the black keys on the keyboard)
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pesante
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weighty, with emphasis
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piano
|
soft
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pianissimo
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very soft
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piú
|
more
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piú mosso
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more movement, quicker
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pizzicato
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for stringed instruments: pluck the string instead of bowing
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poco
|
little
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poco a poco
|
little by little
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polychords
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a combination of two of more chords
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presto
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very fast
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prestissimo
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as fast as possible
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prima/primo
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first; the upper part of a duet
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prima volta
|
first time
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quartal chords
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chords built on a series of 4ths
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quasi
|
almost, as if
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rallentando
|
slowing down (rall.)
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ritardando
|
slowing down (rit.)
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ritenudo
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suddenly slower, held back
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rubato
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a flexible tempo using sight variations of speed to enhance musical expression
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scherzando
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playful
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schnell
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fast (in German)
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seconda
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second; the lower part of a duet
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seconda volta
|
second time
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sehr
|
very (in German)
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semplice
|
simple
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sempre
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always, continuously
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senza
|
without
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seventh chords
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chords consisting of a root, 3rd, 5th, and 7th
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sforzando
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a sudden strong accent of a single note or chord
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simile
|
continue in the same matter as indicated
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slur
|
play the notes legato (musical articulation)
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sonore
|
sonorous
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sostenuto
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sustained
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sotto voce
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softly, subdued, under the breath
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staccato
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sharply detached
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strepitoso
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boisterous, noisy
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stringendo
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pressing, becoming faster
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subito
|
suddenly
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tacet
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be silent
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tempo
|
speed at which music is performed
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Tempo primo
|
return to the original (not previous) tempo
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tenuto
|
held, sustained
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tie
|
hold for the combined value of the notes (musical articulation)
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tranquillo
|
quiet, tranquill
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tre corde
|
three strings: release the left piano pedal (soft pedal)
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triad
|
chord consisting of a root, 3rd, and 5th
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troppo
|
too much
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tutti
|
a passage for the entire ensemble
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una corda
|
one string; press the left piano pedal (soft pedal)
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vite
|
fast (in French)
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vivace
|
lively, brisk
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vivo
|
lively
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volta
|
time
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volta subito
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turn the page quickly
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