A 440

a¹, equal to 440 vibrations per second, in unanimously adopted as the standard pitch.

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Absolute

Absolute music. Music which is inspired by itself rather than extramusical implications such as the stories legends of "program" music.

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A cappella

Unaccompanied.

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Accelerando, accel

Gradually faster.

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Accent

> placed above a note to indicate stress or emphasis.

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Acciaccatura

A short appogiatura or grace note sounded simulatneously with the following note.

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Accidental

A sharp, flat, or natural not included in the given key.

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Accompaniment

A vocal or instrument part that supports or is background for a solo part.

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Adagietto

Less slow than than adagio, or a short piece in adagio tempo.

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Adagio

Slow; slower than andante, faster than largo.

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Adagio assi

Very slowly.

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Adagio cantabile

Very slow and sustained, as if being sung.

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Addolorato

Sorrowfully.

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Ad libitum, ad lib

A term which permits the performer to vary the tempo and/or to include or omit a vocal or instrumental part. Synonymous with a piacere.

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A due

Return to unison after divisi.

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Affrettando

Hurrying.

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Agilmente

Lively.

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Agitato

Agitated; with excitement.

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Al, all', alla, alle

To; used with other words, e.g. al Fine (to the end).

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Album

A full length recording. In pop music, it contains a number of songs.

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Al coda

"To the coda."

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Aleatory, or aleatoric music

Chance music in which the performers are free to perform their own material and/or their own manner of presentation.

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Al fine

To the end.

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Alla breve

Cut time; meter in which there are two beats in each measure and a half note receives one beat.

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Allargando, allarg

Slowing of tempo, usually with increasing volume; most frequently occurs toward the end of a piece.

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Allegretto

Slower than allegro.

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Allegro

Quick tempo; cheerful.

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Al segno

Return to the sign, Dal segno.

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Alteration

The raising or lowering of a note by means of an accidental.

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Alto clef

The C clef falling on the third line of the staff. Most of the time is used by the viola.

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Ancora

Repeat.

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Andante

Moderate tempo.

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Andantino

Slightly faster than andante.

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A niente

To nothing, e.g. to ppp.

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Animato

Animated; lively.

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A piacere

Freedom in performance. Synonymous with ad libitum.

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Appassionato

Impassioned.

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Appoggiatura

A nonharmonic tone, usually a half or whole step above the harmonic tone, which is performed on the beat and then resolved.

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Arabesque

A fanciful piano piece. Ornate passage varying or accompanying a theme.

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Arpeggio

A term used to describe the pitches of a chord as they are sung or played one after the other, rather than simultaneously.

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Arrache

Strong pizzicato.

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Arrangement

An adaption of a composition.

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Articulation

The degree to which notes are separated or connected, such as staccato or legato.

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A tempo

Return to the previous tempo.

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Atonality

Lacking a tonal center.

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Augmentation

Compositional technique in which a melodic line is repeated in longer note values. The opposite of diminution.

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Augmented

The term for a major or perfect interval which has been enlarged by one half-step, e.g. c-g , (an augmented fifth,) or c-d , (an augmented second). Also used for a triad with an augmented fifth, e.g. the augmented tonic triad in C major, C+, c-e-g.

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Authentic Cadence

The cadence composed of the progression from dominant (V) to tonic (I) harmonies.