8.1 A selected list of performance directions
Direction | Interpretation |
---|---|
fff | louder than ff |
ff (fortissimo) | very loud |
f (forte) | loud |
mf (mezzo forte) | (literally) half loud |
mp (mezzo piano) | (literally) half soft |
p (piano) | soft |
pp (pianissimo) | very soft |
ppp | softer than pp |
crescendo (cresc.) | gradually becoming louder |
decrescendo (decresc.) | gradually becoming softer |
diminuendo (dim.) | gradually becoming softer |
sf/sfz (sforzando) | (literally) forced: sudden loudness accentuating a note |
Direction | Translation | Interpretation |
---|---|---|
largo | large, broad | very slowly |
larghetto | diminutive of largo | slow, but not as slow as largo |
grave | heavy, serious | very slow, solemn |
adagio | at ease, leisurely | slowly, or very slowly |
lento | slow | slowly |
andante | at a walking pace | at a medium walking pace |
andantino | diminutive of andante | slightly faster than andante, although sometimes slightly slower |
moderato | moderate, restrained | moderately |
allegretto | diminutive of allegro | fairly quick, but not as quick as allegro |
vivace | flourishing, full of life | lively |
allegro | merry, cheerful | fast |
presto | ready, prompt | very fast (although originally only fast) |
Direction | Interpretation |
---|---|
accelerando (accel.) | gradually becoming quicker |
a tempo | in time |
ma non troppo | but not too much |
rallentando (rall.) | gradually becoming slower |
ritardando (rit. or ritard.) | gradually becoming slower |
ritenuto (rit. or riten.) | (literally) held back: a more localised slowing down |
Direction | Interpretation |
---|---|
legato | smoothly |
semi-staccato | a little detached, less so than staccato |
staccato (stacc.) | detached |
tenuto | held |
Direction | Interpretation |
---|---|
agitato | agitated |
cantabile | in a singing style |
dolce | sweet |
espressivo (espress. or espr.) | expressive |
grazioso | graceful |
leggiero | light |
molto | very, much |
poco | a little |
semplice | simple |
senza | without |
sostenuto | sustained |
subito | sudden |