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MUSIC GUIDE 05

EXPRESSIONS
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Expressions

One of the first things you'll see on a piece of music is how you should sing it - the expession marks. As with most things in music this will tend to be in a language other than the one you use so here are some (but definitely not all) of the expressions you may see:

Adagio In a slow tempo, usually considered to be slower than andante but faster than larghetto
Allegretto In a moderately quick tempo, usually considered to be slightly slower than allegro but faster than andante.
Allegro In a quick, lively tempo, usually considered to be faster than allegretto but slower than presto
Andante In a moderately slow tempo, usually considered to be slower than allegretto but faster than adagio
Bewegt With movement
Con brio With great energy; vigorously
Con moto With movement
Entrainant Lively, vigorous, dashing
Grave Dignified and somber
Langsam Slow
Larghetto In a slow tempo, usually slightly faster than largo but slower than adagio
Largo In a very slow tempo, usually considered to be slower than adagio, and with great dignity
Lebhaft Lively
Lento In a slow tempo
Maestoso In a majestic and stately manner
Mässig Moderately
Moderato In moderate tempo that is slower than allegretto but faster than andante
Prestissimo In as fast a tempo as possible
Presto Fast
Schnell Fast
Vivace In a lively or vivacious manner
Vivo Lively

 

I got the definitions from www.Dictionary.com (a great resource!) and www.dolmetsch.com/musictheorydefs.htm (an excellent huge music information site)

 

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