accelerando, accel.
becoming quicker
accent
a stressed note
ad libitum, ad lib.
at the liberty of the performer
adagio
slow
agitato
agitated
alla, all'
in the manner of
allargando, allarg.
broadening, becoming slower
allegretto
fairly fast (a little slower than allegro)
allegro
fast
andante
moderately slow; at a walking pace
andantino
a little faster than andante
animato
lively, animated
arco
on a bowed instrument, resume bowing after a pizzicato passage
a tempo
return to the original tempo
attaca
proceed without a break
ben, bene
well (eg. ben marcato: well marked)
bewegt
moving
calando
becoming slower and softer
cantabile
in a singing style
cédez
yield, hold the tempo back
col, coll', colla, colle
with (eg. coll' ottava: with an added octave)
comodo
at a comfortable, easy tempo
, con
with
con brio
with vigor, spirit
con espressione
with expression
con fuoco
with fire
con grazia
with grace
con moto
with motion
con sordino
with mute
crescendo, cresc.
becoming louder
da capo, D.C.
from the beginning
del segno, D.S.
from the sign
D.C. al Fine
repeat from the beginning and end at Fine
decrescendo, decresc.
becoming softer
diminuendo, dim.
becoming softer
dolce
sweet, gentle
dolente
sad
e, ed
and
espressivo, espress
expressive, with expression
fine
the end
forte
loud
fortepiano
loud, then suddenly soft
fortissimo
very loud
giocoso
humorous, jocose
grandioso
grand, grandiose