Signs denoting time or relative value of sound:
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Each of these notes represents twice the duration of sound of that which
comes next in order. The sign to the right of each note indicates a rest or
silence equal to its sound duration.
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In time, the figure above a line drawn thus across the stave denotes the
length of the pause in bars.
_Accel._ Accelerando. Gradually increasing the speed.
_Adg^{_o_}_ or _Ad^{_o_}._ Adagio. Slow; also name given to a slow movement
or piece.
_Ad lib._ Ad libitum. Passages so marked may be rendered at the will of the
performer.
_And._ Andante. Moderately slow: graceful; sometimes used as the name of a
movement or separate piece.
_Anim^{_o_}._ Animato. Animated: with soul.
_A tem._ A tempo. In time.
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_Bar._ A line drawn perpendicularly across the stave, separating the notes
into measures of equal length; also the music comprised within two such
lines.--_Double Bar_. The former of the two signs is used to mark the
larger divisions of a piece or movement; in psalm tunes, hymns, chants,
&c., to mark the end of a verse or sentence. The latter sign denotes the
end of a composition.
[Bind marks] Bind or Tie. Placed over two or more notes in the same
position on the stave, to show they are to be played as one.
[Breath marks] Breath-marks. In vocal music, signs used to show where
breath should be taken.
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Denoting common time; the former indicating four crotchets to the bar, the
latter two minims to the bar.
_Cal._ Calando. Gradually slower, and with decreasing volume of tone.
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_Clef._ The sign placed at the beginning of a stave, determining the
absolute pitch of the notes that follow it.
[Crescendo] Crescendo. Gradual increase of tone.
([Dash]) Dash. When placed over or under a note, implies a very detached
(_staccato_) style.
_D.C._ Da capo. From the beginning; indicating that the performer must
return to the beginning of the movement, and conclude at the double bar
marked _Fine_.
[Decrescendo] Decrescendo. Gradually softer.
_Dim._ Diminuendo. Gradual decrease of tone.
(·) Dot. When added to a note or rest, lengthens it by one-half. When
placed over or under a note, means that its duration should be cut short.
[Flat] Flat. The sign which lowers the pitch of a note one semitone.
[Double Flat] Double Flat. Used before a note already flat, lowering it
another semitone. It is corrected by a flat and a natural.
_f._ Forte. Loudly: strongly.
_ff._ Fortissimo. Very loud.
_fff._ Fortississimo. As loud as possible.
_f.p._ Forte-piano. Loud, then soft.
_Leg._ Legato. In a smooth and gliding manner.
_Lo._ Loco. Indicating to return to the proper pitch after having played an
octave higher.
_mf._ or _mff._ Mezzo-forte. Moderately loud.
_mp._ Mezzo-piano. Moderately soft.
_Manc._ Mancando. Dying away, decreasing.
_Marc._ Marcato. In a marked manner, emphasised.
M.M. Maelzel's metronome.
M.M. [Crotchet]=80. Denoting that the beat of a crotchet is equal to the
pulse of the pendulum of Maelzel's metronome, with the weight set at 80.
[Natural] Natural. Restores a note, which has been raised by the sharp or
lowered by the flat, to its original pitch.
_Ott._, O^{va}, 8^{va}=Ottava. An octave--as 8^{va} _alta_=_ottava alta_,
(to be played) an octave higher; 8^{va} _bas._ = _ottava bassa_, an octave
lower.
_p._ Piano. Softly.
_P.F._ or _pf._ Piano-forte. Soft, then loud.
_pp._ Pianissimo. Very soft.
_ppp._ Pianississimo. As softly as possible.
[Pause] Pause or _Corona_. When placed over a note or rest, indicates
that it must be held longer than its natural length. When over a double
bar, indicates where the piece is to be concluded after a repeat.
_Pizz_. Pizzicato. A direction to violinists to twang the string with the
finger instead of using the bow.
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Quintuplet. A group of five notes played in the time of four.
4^{tte} Quartette.
5^{tte} Quintette.
_Raddol._ Raddolcendo. Gradually softer and sweeter.
_Rall._ Rallentando. Becoming gradually slower.
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Repeat. When placed at the beginning and end of a passage or movement,
indicates that the portion so marked is to be played over again.
_Rit._ Ritardando. Retarding, holding back the time.
[Segno] Segno. The sign--as _Al Segno_, to the sign; _Dal Segno_, from
the sign.
_Sem._, _Semp._ Sempre. Always, throughout--as _sempre legato_, smooth
throughout; _sempre ritardando_, continually slackening the time.
7^{tte} Septet.
6^{tte} Sextet, or Sestet.
[Sforzando] Sforzando. Denoting emphasis applied to a particular note or
notes. Abbreviated _sf._, _sfz._
[Sforzato-piano.] Sforzato-piano. A sudden _forte_ followed by a
_diminuendo_ or _piano_. Abbreviated _sfp._, _sfz.p._
[Sharp] Sharp. The sign which raises the pitch of a note one semitone.
[Double Sharp] Double Sharp. Used before a note already sharp, raising
the pitch by a semitone. It is contradicted by a natural and a sharp.
[Slur] Slur. Showing that the notes over which it is placed must be played
in a smooth (_legato_) manner.
_Sos._, _Sos^{_t_}._ Sostenuto. Sustained; prolonging the tone for the full
duration of time indicated.
_Spir._ Spiritoso. In a spirited or lively manner.
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Stave or Staff. The horizontal and parallel lines on which the notes are
placed, used to indicate their relative position as regards pitch.
_Trem._ Tremolando. With trembling or wavering; a note or chord played with
great rapidity so as to produce such an effect.
3^o Trio.
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Triplet. A group of three notes performed in the time of two.
_T.S._ Tasto solo. One key alone: a direction to play a part in unison.
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