Many musical terms are in Italian because, in Europe, the vast majority of the most important early composers from the Renaissance to the Baroque period were Italian.[citation needed ] That period is when numerous musical indications were used extensively for the first time.[ 1]
Italian terms and English translations [ edit ]
Italian term
Literal translation
Definition
A cappella
in chapel style
Sung with no (instrumental) accompaniment, has much harmonizing
Aria
air
Piece of music, usually for a singer
Aria di sorbetto
sorbet air
A short solo performed by a secondary character in the opera
Arietta
little air
A short or light aria
Arioso
airy
A type of solo opera or operetta
Ballabile
danceable
(song) to be danced to
Battaglia
battle
An instrumental or vocal piece suggesting a battle
Bergamasca
from Bergamo
A peasant dance from Bergamo
Burletta
a little joke
A light comic or farcical opera
Cabaletta
from copola (couplet )
A two-part musical form
Cadenza
falling
A florid solo at the end of a performance
Cantata
sung
A piece for orchestra and singers
Capriccio
caprice
A lively piece, free in form, often used to show musical skill
Cavatina
small instrumental tone
A simple melody or song
Coda
tail
The end of a piece
Concerto
concert
A work for one or more solo instruments accompanied by an orchestra
Concertino
little concert
A short concerto; the solo instrument in a concerto
Concerto grosso
big concert
A Baroque form of concerto, with a group of solo instruments
Da capo aria
from the head aria
A three-section musical form
Dramma giocoso
jocular drama
A form of opera
Dramma per musica
drama for music
Libretto
Fantasia
fantasy
A musical composition or “idea” typified by improvisation
Farsa
farce
A one-act comical opera
Festa teatrale
theatrical party
A genre of opera
Fioritura
flowery
A highly embellished vocal line
Intermedio
intermediate
A short connecting instrumental movement – an intermezzo
Intermezzo
interval
A short connecting instrumental movement
Libretto
little book
A work containing the words to an opera, musical, or ballet
Melodramma
melodrama
A style of opera
Opera
work
A drama set to music for singers and instrumentalists
Opera buffa
humorous opera
A comic opera
Opera semiseria
semi-serious opera
A variety of opera
Opera seria
serious opera
An opera with a serious, esp. classical theme
Operetta
little opera
A variety of light opera
Oratorio
oratory
Large musical composition for orchestra, choir, and soloists
Pasticcio
pastiche
A musical piece containing works by different composers
Ripieno concerto
padding concert
A form of Baroque concerto with no solo parts
Serenata
Serenade
A song or composition in someone's honour. Originally, a musical greeting performed for a lover
Soggetto cavato
carved subject
A musical cryptogram, using coded syllables as a basis for the composition
Sonata
sounded
A composition for one or two instruments in sonata form
Verismo
realism
A genre of operas with scenarios based on contemporary everyday life
Musical instruments [ edit ]
Italian term
Literal translation
Definition
Campana
bell
A bell used in an orchestra; also campane "bells"
Cornetto
little horn
An old woodwind instrument
Fagotto
bundle
A bassoon, a woodwind instrument played with a double reed
Orchestra
orchestra , orig. Greek orkesthai "dance"
An ensemble of instruments
Piano(forte)
soft-loud
A keyboard instrument
Piccolo
little
A tiny woodwind instrument
Sordun
deaf, dull in sound
An archaic double-reed wind instrument
Timpani
drums
Large drums
Tuba
tube
A large brass instrument
Viola
viola , orig. Latin vitulari "be joyful"
A medium-sized stringed instrument
Viola d'amore
love viola
A tenor viol with no frets
Viola da braccio
arm viola
A stringed instrument held in the arm, such as a violin or viola
Viola da gamba
leg viola
A stringed instrument held between the legs
Violoncello
Violoncello was the original name for a cello.
A large stringed instrument
Italian term
Literal translation
Definition
Alto
high
Second-highest vocal line
Basso
low
Or "bass;" the lowest vocal line
Basso profondo
deep low
A very deep bass voice
Castrato
castrated
A male singer, castrated before puberty so as to be able to sing soprano (now sung by women, conventional countertenors , or sopranisti )
Coloratura soprano
colouring soprano
A soprano specialised in complex, ornamented melody
Contralto
against high
Alto, esp. a female alto
Falsetto
little false
A vocal register immediately above the modal voice range
Falsettone
Falsetto, sung using the usual techniques of modal voice register
Leggiero tenor
See tenore di grazia
Musico
musician
Originally, a trained musician; later, a castrato or female singer
Mezzo-soprano
middle-upper
Between soprano and alto
Passaggio
crossing
A vocal range
Soprano
upper
The highest vocal line
Soprano sfogato
unlimited soprano
A soprano who has extended her upper range beyond the usual range of a soprano
Spinto
pushed
A forceful voice, between the lyric and dramatic in weight
Spinto soprano
pushed soprano
A soprano whose voice, while normally of lyric weight and fluidity, can be pushed to a more forceful weight
Squillo
ringing
The resonant clarity of an operatic singer's voice
Tenore contraltino
A tenor voice capable of a slightly higher range of sustainable notes than usual
Tenore di grazia or Leggiero tenor
tenor of grace or lightweight tenor
A lightweight, flexible tenor voice
Tessitura
texture
A singer's comfortable range
Italian term
Literal translation
Definition
Accelerando
accelerating
Accelerating
Accompagnato
accompanied
The accompaniment must follow the singer who can speed up or slow down at will.
Adagio
ad agio, at ease
Slow and easy (but not as slow as largo)
Adagietto
a bit at ease
1. Slightly less easy than adagio (so slightly faster); 2. a short adagio composition
Affrettando
becoming hurried
Accelerating
Alla marcia
as a march
In strict tempo at a marching pace (e.g. 120 BPM)
Allargando
broadening
Slowing down and broadening; becoming more stately and majestic, possibly louder
Allegro
joyful; lively and fast
Joyful; moderately fast tempo
Allegretto
a little bit joyful
Slightly less joyful than allegro (so slightly slower tempo)
Andante
walking
At a walking pace; flowing; moderately slow tempo
Andantino
a little bit walking
Less of a walking pace than andante (so slightly quicker)
A tempo
to time
Return to previous tempo
Fermata
held, stopped , orig. Latin firmo "make firm, fortify"
Holding or sustaining a note
Grave
grave, solemn
Slow and solemn tempo (slower than largo)
Largo
broad
Slow and dignified tempo
Largamente
broadly
Slow and dignified tempo
Larghetto
broad-ish
Slightly less dignified than largo (so slightly faster tempo)
Lento
slow
Slow tempo
Lentando
slowing
Decelerating, slowing down
L'istesso tempo
the same time
At the same tempo
Moderato
moderate
Moderate tempo
Mosso
moved, agitated
Agitated
Presto
prompt, quick; ready for action
Very fast
Prestissimo
very prompt, very quick
Very very fast (above 200 BPM)
Rallentando
slowing down
Decelerating
Ritardando
retarding
Decelerating
Tardo
slow, tardy
Slow tempo
Tempo
time
The speed of music; e.g. 120 BPM (beats per minute)
(Tempo) rubato
robbed
Free flowing and exempt from steady rhythm
Tenuto
sustained
Holding or sustaining a single note
Vivace
vivacious
Fast and lively tempo (quicker than allegro)
Italian term
Literal translation
Musical definition
Affettuoso
with feeling
Tenderly
Agitato
agitated, moved
Excited, fast
Animato
animated
Animated, fast
Brillante
brilliant
Bright, radiant
Bruscamente
brusquely
Abruptly, bluntly
Cantabile
singable
In a singing style
Colossale
colossal
In a fashion which suggests immensity
Comodo
convenient
Comfortably, moderately
Con amore
with love
With love
Con brio
with power
With vigour
Con fuoco
with fire
Passionate, enthusiastic
Con moto
with movement
With movement, with energy, spirited
Con spirito
with spirit
Vigorous, spirited
Deciso
firm, resolute
Decisive, determined
Dolce
sweet
Softly, sweetly
Drammatico
dramatic
Dramatic
Espressivo
expressive
Expressive
Feroce
ferocious
Fierce, heavy
Festoso
happy
Festive, jolly
Furioso
furious
Angry, hasty
Giocoso
playful
Merry, spirited, playful
Grandioso
great, grandiose
Broad, noble, great
Grazioso
gracious, graceful
Graceful, charming
Lacrimoso
lachrymose, teary
Tearfully, sadly
Lamentoso
Plaintively, Sadly
Mournfully, with sorrow
Maestoso
majestic
Stately, broadly
Misterioso
mysterious
Mysteriously, secretively, enigmatic
Morendo
dying
Dying away
Pesante
heavy
Heavy, slowly, weightily
Risoluto
resolved
Resolved, decisive
Scherzando
playful, joking
Playful, lively
Solitario
lonely
Lonely, alone
Sotto (voce)
under-voice, subdued (voice)
Subdued, hushed
Sonore
loud, resonant
Full, broad
Semplicemente
simply
Simply
Slancio
passionately hurl or fling; lance
Enthusiastic
Tranquillo
calm, tranquil
Calm, soft, peaceful
Vivace
vivacious
Up-tempo, lively
Volante
flying
Fast, light
Musical expression (general)[ edit ]
Italian term
Literal translation
Usage
Molto
very; much
Comes before other terms; e.g. molto allegro ("very cheerful")
Assai
very; aplenty
Comes after other terms; e.g. allegro assai ("very cheerful")
Più
more
Comes before other terms; e.g. più mosso ("more moved/agitated")
Poco
little
Comes before other terms; e.g. poco diminuendo ("a little diminishing")
poco a poco
little by little
"Slowly but steadily." Comes before other terms; e.g. poco a poco crescendo ("increasing little by little")
ma non tanto
but not so much
Comes after other terms; e.g. adagio ma non tanto ("not quite at ease")
ma non troppo
but not too much
Comes after other terms; e.g. allegro ma non troppo ("not too joyful")
Meno
less
Comes before other terms, such as meno mosso ("less moved/agitated")
Subito
suddenly, quickly
Comes before or after other terms; e.g. subito fortissimo ("suddenly very loud")
Patterns within the musical score [ edit ]
Italian term
Literal translation
Definition
Lacuna
gap
A silent pause in a piece of music
Ossia
from o ("or") + sia ("that it be")
A secondary passage of music which may be played in place of the original
Ostinato
stubborn, obstinate
A repeated motif or phrase in a piece of music
Pensato
thought out
A composed imaginary note
Ritornello
little return
A recurring passage in a piece of Baroque music
Segue
it follows
A smooth movement from one passage to another with no pause
Stretto
tightened, strict
In a fugue, the repeating of a motif by a second voice before the first rendition is completed
Italian term
Literal translation
Definition
Attacca
attach, begin
Proceed to the next section without pause
Cambiare
change
Any change, such as to a new instrument
Da Capo (al fine)
from the beginning (to the "fine")
Abbreviated as D.C., informs the performer to go back to the beginning (capo) (finishing where the part is marked fine ).
Dal Segno
from the sign
Abbreviated as D.S., informs the performer to repeat a specific section marked by a sign (segno) .
Divisi
divided
Instructs one section to divide into two or more separate sections, each playing a separate part. Often these separate parts are written on the same staff.
Oppure
from o ("or") + pure ("also")
Informs the player of alternative ways to play a passage. See Ossia .
Solo
alone
A piece or performance to be played by a single musician
Sole
Group solo
A piece or performance to be played by a designated group
Italian term
Literal translation
Definition
Acciaccatura
crunching
An extra, very fast grace note
Altissimo
very high
Very high
Appoggiatura
leaning, supporting
A type of ornament that creates a "yearning" effect
Arco
bow
Cancels col legno and pizzicato. (In any string passage, arco is usually expected, as it is the "default" approach; it is only ever written at the end of col legno or pizzicato passages.)
Arpeggio
harp-like
A chord with the notes spread out in time (rather than sounded simultaneously)
Basso continuo
continuous bass
Continuous bass accompaniment by chordal instrument(s) and bass instrument(s) (see figured bass.)
A bocca chiusa
in closed mouth
Wordless humming in a choral piece
Chiuso
closed
Calls for a horn to be muted by hand.
Coloratura
colouration
Elaborate ornamentation of a vocal line
Coperti
covered
Of a drum, muted with a cloth
Una corda
one string, cord
On a piano, played with the soft pedal depressed
Due corde
two strings
On a piano, played with the soft pedal depressed (For why both terms exist, see Piano#Pedals . )
Tre corde or tutte le corde
three strings or all the strings
Cancels una corda
Glissando
gliding, glossing
A sweeping glide from one pitch to another used for dramatic effect
Legato
tied
A series of notes played with a smooth connection between them
Col legno
with the wood
Calls for a bowed instrument's strings to be struck with the wood of the bow (rather than drawn across with the hair of the bow).
Martellato
hammered
Of notes, strongly accented and detached
Pizzicato
pinched, plucked
Calls for a bowed instrument's strings to be plucked with the fingers.
Portamento
carrying
Playing with a sliding of pitch between two notes
Portato
carried
Played in a style between staccato and legato
Sforzando
forcing
Playing with strong, marked emphasis
Scordatura
discord
Alternate tuning (of strings)
Con sordino
with sourdine (mute)
With mute applied, esp. to string instruments
Senza sordino
without sourdine (mute)
With mute removed
Spiccato
separated, distinct; standing out
With a stringed instrument, played by bouncing the bow lightly on the strings
Staccato
detached
A form of musical articulation in which notes are distinct and separated from each other by short gaps
Staccatissimo
very detached
Forcefully exaggerated staccato
Tutti
all
Played or sung by the entire ensemble, rather than by just a soloist or principal player
Vibrato
vibrating
Played with rapid repetitive variation or undulation in pitch
Colla voce
with the voice
(For accompanists) In time with the singer's text, especially when slowing for textual effect
Italian term
Literal translation
Definition
Banda
band
Small music ensemble used as a supplement to the orchestra in an opera
Comprimario
with the first
Supporting role
Concertino
little concert
Smaller, more virtuosic group of musicians in a concerto grosso
Convenienze
conveniences
Rules relating to the ranking of singers in opera (primo , secondo , comprimario ) in 19th-century Italian opera , and the number of scenes, arias, etc. that they were entitled to expect.[ 2] The convenienze are referred to in the Donizetti opera Le convenienze ed inconvenienze teatrali .
Coro
choir
Ensemble of singers
Diva
divine one (fem.)
Leading female singer
Prima donna
first lady
Leading female role
Primo uomo
first man
Leading male role
Ripieno
refilling or stuffing
The larger group of musicians in a concerto grosso
Italian term
Literal translation
Definition
Bel canto
beautiful singing
Any fine singing, esp. that popular in 18th- and 19th-century Italian opera
Bravura
skill
A performance of extraordinary virtuosity
Bravo
skillful
A cry of congratulation to a male singer or performer. (Masc. pl. bravi; fem. sing. brava; fem. pl. brave.) The use of ! after a written expression of "bravo/a/i/e(!)" strongly emphasizes it.
Musical direction and staging [ edit ]
Italian term
Literal translation
Definition
Maestro
master, teacher
Conductor, music director, music teacher; also composer and other eminent musicians and singers
Maestro collaboratore
collaborating master
Assistant conductor
Maestro sostituto
substitute/deputy master
Assistant conductor
Maestro suggeritore
master suggester/prompter
Prompter
Stagione
season
A variety of formal organisation of players and crew in the staging of operas
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