Performance directions – basic music terms

In music we use Italian terms as directions. It is a way for the composer to tell performers their intention and it gives us an idea of the mood or style to perform it in.

Try to think up images or stories as you play that suit the performance directions.
These are just some of the most common music directions, with the most popular ones highlighted. For more on tempo (and terms to do with speed) go to this blog post.

Style

Adagio  – slow

Allegretto – fairly quick (not as fast as allegro)

Allegro – quick/lively

Amoroso – tender, affectionate

Animato – animated, lively

Andante – at a medium walking speed

Cantabile – in a singing style

Con Anima – with life and animation

Con Brio – with vigour and spirit

Con Fuoco – with energy or passion

Dolce – sweetly, privately (for yourself)

Doloroso – sorrowfully

Espressivo – expressively

Furioso – furious

Giocoso – humorous

Grandioso – with grandeur

Grazioso – gracefully

Legato – smooth and connected

Leggiero – lightly

Maestoso – majestically

Morendo – dying away

Pesante – heavy

Sempre – always, continuously

Staccato –  detached

Tenuto – sustained, held for full value

Tranquillo – tranquil

Other useful words

Assai – very

Con – with

L’istesso tempo – same tempo

Meno – less

Mosso – motion, animated

Non troppo – not too much

Piu mosso – faster

Poco – little

Poco a poco – little by little

Sempre – always

Simile – in the same manner

Subito – suddenly