| Italian term | Literal translation | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| A cappella | in chapel style | Sung with no (instrumental) accompaniment, has lots of harmonizing |
| Aria | air | Piece of music, usually for a singer |
| Aria di sorbetto | sorbet air | A lesser aria within an opera |
| Arietta | little air | A short or light aria |
| Arioso | airy | A type of solo vocal piece during an 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 embellised 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
| Piano(forte) | soft-loud | A keyboard instrument |
| Viola | viola, orig. Latin vitulari "be joyful" | A medium-sized stringed instrument |
| (Violon)cello | Small violone (violone means "big viola") | A large stringed instrument |
| Viola da gamba | leg viola | A stringed instrument held between the legs |
| Viola da braccio | arm viola | A stringed instrument held in the arm, such as a violin or viola |
| Viola d'amore | love viola | A tenor viol with no frets |
| Tuba | tube | A large brass instrument |
| Piccolo | little | A tiny woodwind instrument |
| Fagotto | bass oboe | A bass woodwind instrument played with a double reed. |
| Sordun | deaf, dull in sound | An archaic double-reed wind instrument |
| Timpani | drums | Large drums |
| Cornetto | little horn | An old woodwind instrument |
| Campana | bell | A bell used in an orchestra; also campane "bells" |
| Orchestra | orchestra, orig. Greek orkesthai "dance" | An ensemble of instruments |
Voices
| Soprano | upper | The highest vocal line |
| Mezzo-soprano | middle-upper | Between soprano and alto |
| Alto | high | Second-highest vocal line |
| Contralto | against high | Alto, esp. a female alto |
| Basso | low | Or "bass;" the lowest vocal line |
| Basso profondo | deep and low | A very deep bass voice |
| Coloratura soprano | colouring soprano | A soprano specialised in complex, ornamented melody |
| Soprano sfogato | unlimited soprano | A soprano who has extended her upper range beyond the usual range of a soprano |
| 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’’’ | ' | A lightweight, flexible tenor voice |
| Tessitura | texture | A singer’s comfortable range |
| Falsetto | little false | A vocal register immediately above the modal voice range |
| Falsettone | ' | Falsetto, sung using the usual techniques of modal voice register |
| Castrato | castrated | A male singer, castrated so as to be able to sing soprano (now sung by women, conventional countertenors, or sopranisti) |
| Musico | musician | Originally, a trained musician; later, a castrato or female singer |
| Spinto | pushed | A forceful voice, between the lyric and dramatic in weight |
| Passaggio | crossing | A vocal range |
Tempo
| Tempo | time | The speed of music e.g. 120 BPM (Beats Per Minute) |
| Grave | solemn | Slow and solemn, slower than largo |
| Largo | broad | Slow and dignified |
| Larghetto | a little bit broad | Not as slow as largo |
| Lentando | slowing | Becoming slower |
| Lento | slow | Slow |
| Tardo | slow | Slow |
| Adagio | ad agio, at ease | Slow, but not as slow as largo |
| Adagietto | little adagio | Faster than adagio; or a short adagio composition |
| Andante | at a walking pace | Moderately slow, flowing along |
| Andantino | slightly faster than andante | slightly faster than andante |
| Moderato | moderately | At a moderate speed |
| Allegretto | a little bit joyful | Slightly slower than allegro |
| Largamente | broadly | Slow and dignified |
| Mosso | moved | Agitated |
| Allegro | joyful; lively and fast | Moderately fast |
| Sostenuto | sustained | A slowing of tempo, often accompanied by legato playing |
| Fermata | stopped | Marks a note to be held or sustained |
| Presto | ready | Very fast |
| Prestissimo | very ready | Very very fast, as fast as possible |
| Accelerando | accelerating | Accelerating |
| Affrettando | becoming hurried | Accelerating |
| Allargando | slowing and broadening | Slowing down and broadening, becoming more stately and majestic, possibly louder |
| Ritardando | slowing down | Decelerating |
| Rallentando | becoming progressively slower | Decelerating |
| Rubato | robbed | Free flowing and exempt from steady rhythm |
| Tenuto | sustained | Holding or sustaining a single note |
| Accompagnato | accompanied | The accompaniment must follow the singer who can speed up or slow down at will |
| Alla marcia | as a march | In strict tempo at a marching pace (e.g. 120 bpm) |
| A tempo | to time | Return to previous tempo |
| L'istesso tempo | Same speed | At the same speed |
Dynamics – volume
| Calando | quietening | Becoming softer and slower |
| Crescendo | growing | Becoming louder |
| Decrescendo | shrinking | Becoming softer |
| Diminuendo | dwindling | Becoming softer |
| Forte | strong | Loud |
| Fortissimo | very strong | Very loud |
| Marcato | marked | A note played forcefully |
| Mezzo forte | half-strong | Moderately loud |
| Piano | gentle | Soft |
| Pianissimo | very gentle | Very soft |
| Mezzo piano | half-gentle | Moderately soft |
| Sforzando | strained | Sharply accented |
| Stentato | in the manner of Stentor | Loud, boisterous |
| Tremolo | trembling | A rapid repetitive variation in the volume (or pitch) of a tone |
| Messa di voce | placing the voice | A style of singing involving changing volume while holding a single note |
Moods
| Affettuoso | with feeling | Tenderly |
| Agitato | agitated | Excited and fast |
| Animato | animated | Animated |
| Brillante | brilliant | Brilliant, bright |
| Bruscamente | brusquely | Brusquely – abruptly |
| 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 fuoco | with fire | With fiery manner |
| Con brio | with bright | brightly |
| Con moto | with movement | With (audible) movement |
| Con spirito | with spirit | With spirit |
| Dolce | sweetly | Sweet |
| Espressivo | expressive | Expressively |
| Festoso | happy | With happiness |
| Furioso | furious | With passion |
| Grazioso | graciously or gracefully | With charm |
| Lacrimoso | teary | Tearfully, sadly |
| Maestoso | majestic | Stately |
| Misterioso | mysterious | Mysteriously, secretively, enigmatic |
| Pesante | heavy | Heavy, slowly, sadly |
| Risoluto | resolved | Resolved, decisive |
| Scherzando | playfully | Playfully |
| Sotto | subdued | Subdued |
| Semplicemente | simply | Simply |
| Slancio | passion | Enthusiasm |
| Vivace | vivacious | Up-tempo |
Musical expression (general)
| Molto | very | Used with other terms, such as molto allegro |
| Assai | very | Used with other terms, such as allegro assai |
| Più | more | Used with other terms, such as più mosso |
| Poco | little | "A little". Used with other terms, such as poco diminuendo |
| poco a poco | little by little | "little by little", "slowly but steadily". Used with other terms, such as poco a poco crescendo |
| ma non tanto | but not so much | Used with other terms, such as adagio ma non tanto |
| ma non troppo | but not too much | Used with other terms, such as allegro ma non troppo |
| Meno | less | Used with other terms, such as meno mosso |
| Subito | suddenly, quickly | Used with other terms, such as subito fortissimo |
Patterns within the musical score
| Lacuna | gap | A silent pause in a piece of music |
| Ossia | alternatively | A secondary passage of music which may be played in place of the original |
| Ostinato | stubborn | A repeated motif or phrase in a piece of music |
| 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 | In a fugue, the repeating of a motif by a second voice before the first rendition is completed |
| Pensato | thought | A composed imaginary note |
Directions
| Attacca | attach | 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 end) | 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 | otherwise | 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 |
Techniques
| Altissimo | very high | Very high |
| Arpeggio | harp-like | A chord with the notes spread out in time (rather than sounded simultaneously) |
| Acciaccatura | crushing | An extra, very fast grace note |
| Appoggiatura | leaning | A type of ornament that creates a "yearning" effect |
| Basso continuo | continuous bass | Continuous bass accompaniment by chordal instrument(s) and bass instrument(s) (see figured bass.) |
| A bocca chiusa | mouth closed | Wordless humming in a choral piece |
| Chiuso | closed | Calls for a horn to be muted by hand |
| Coll'arco | with the bow | Cancels col legno and pizzicato (in a string passage, arco is usually expected, as it is the "default" approach, and is not written except at the end of col legno or pizzicato passages.) |
| Colla voce | with the voice | A note to accompanists to play with (in time with) the singer's text, especially when slowing for textual effect |
| Col legno | with the wood | Calls for a bowed instrument's strings to be struck with the wood of the bow rather having the hair of the bow drawn over the strings |
| Coloratura | coloration | Elaborate ornamentation of a vocal line |
| Glissando | glide | A sweeping glide from one pitch to another used for dramatic effect |
| Legato | tied together | A series of notes played with a smooth connection between them |
| Martellato | hammered | Notes are strongly accented and detached |
| Con sordino | with mute | Calls for mute to be applied, esp. to string instruments. |
| Senza sordino | without mute | Calls for mute to be removed, esp. from string instruments. |
| Pizzicato | plucked | Calls for a bowed instrument to be plucked with the fingers |
| Portamento | carrying | A sliding of pitch between two notes |
| Portato | carried | A style of playing between staccato and legato |
| Sforzando | using force | Played with strong, marked emphasis |
| Coperti | covered | Of a drum, muted with a cloth |
| Una corda | one string | With the soft pedal, on a piano |
| Due corde | two strings | With the soft pedal, on a piano. For why both terms exist, see piano. |
| Tre corde or tutte le corde | Three strings or all the strings | Cancels an una corda |
| Spiccato | separated | Playing a stringed instrument by bouncing the bow lightly on the strings |
| Tutti | all | A direction for the entire ensemble to play or sing, rather than just a soloist or principal player |
| Staccatissimo | very detached | Forcefully exaggerated staccato |
| Staccato | detached | A form of musical articulation in which notes are distinct and separated from each other by short gaps |
| Scordatura | mistuning | Alternate tuning (of strings) |
| Vibrato | vibrating | A rapid repetitive variation or undulation in the pitch of a tone |
Roles
| Prima donna | first lady | Leading female role |
| Primo uomo | first man | Leading male role |
| Banda | band | A small music ensemble used as a supplement to the orchestra in an opera |
| Comprimario | con primario, with the first | A supporting role |
| Concertino | little concert | The smaller, more virtuosic, group of musicians in a concerto grosso |
| Coro | choir | An ensemble of singers |
| Diva | female deity | A leading female singer |
| Ripieno | filling or stuffing | The larger group of musicians in a concerto grosso |
| Convenienze | conveniences | The rules relating to the ranking of singers in opera |
Criticism
| Bel canto | beautiful voice | 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. Fem. brava, pl. bravi, fem.pl. brave. The use of ! after "Bravo/a/i/e(!)" strongly emphasizes the written expression. |
Musical direction and staging
| Maestro | Master, teacher | Conductor, music director, music teacher, also composer and other eminent musicians and singers |
| Maestro sostituto | Deputy master | Assistant conductor |
| Maestro collaboratore | Collaborating master | Assistant conductor |
| Maestro suggeritore | Master prompter | Prompter |
| Stagione | season | A variety of formal organisation of players and crew in the staging of operas |