Lesson Tutor: Elements of Music Notation: Tone

Elements of Music Notation : Tone
by Elaine Ernst Schneider and Joanne Mikola

Term
Definition
Abbreviation
agitato played with restlessness
con amore tenderly, lovingly
con fuoco fiery
con passione passionately
crescendo gradually grow louder see > in line 17 Verdi La Donna e Mobile
decrescendo gradually grow softer
diminuendo gradually grow softer
dolce sweetly
dolente sadly
dynamics loudness or softness when playing
espressivo expressively e.g.Traditional Irish Danny Boy
forte loud
f
fortissimo very loud
ff
gioioso joyous
legato smooth and connected  [Pachebal; Canon]
maestoso majestic e.g.Mozart; Wedding March (Marriage of Figaro)
meno less
mesto sad
mezzo forte moderately loud
mf
mezzo piano moderately soft
mp
misterioso mysteriously
moderato moderately e.g. Traditional Australian Waltzing Matilda; Wagner Wedding March
molto very
non troppo not too much
pianissimo very soft
pp
piano soft
p
poco a little
staccato short, quick hits. Like popcorn popping

Printable Wordsearch Puzzles: Time and Tone Vocabulary
Worksheet Number 1
Worksheet Number 2

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