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 |
Special signs
