Terms related to expression

This expression glossary section covers all terms encountered in AMEB Piano Books. Expression terms related to how to perform the piece professionally. The terms will be asked by examiner in the General Knowledge Test if the terms appeared in your exam pieces.

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Glossary S-V

Scherzando- playfully
Secco- dry
Sehr langsam- very slowly
Sempre-always
Senza- without
Snza ped.- without the sustaining pedal
Senza sordino- without the soft pedal
sf, sforzando- a strong accent
sfz, sforzato- a sudden strong accent
Simile- continue in a similar manner
Smorzando- dying away
Sopra- above (refers to which hand should move above the other when hands are crossed in piano playing)
Sostenuto- sustained
Sotto voce- softly in an [...]

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Glossary P-R

Perdendosi- fading away
p, piano- soft
Piu forte- louder
Piu lento-slower
Piu quieto- quieter
Piu vivo- more lively
Poco- a little
Poco a povo- little by little, gradually
Portato- carrying, a touch between legato and staccato
pp, pianissimo- very soft
ppp, pianissimente- extremely soft
Prestissimo- extremely fast
Presto- very fast
Quasi- as if, as it were
Quasi arpa- in the style of a harp
Rall., rallentando- gradually becoming slower
Rasch, aber [...]

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Glossary L-M

Largo- broadly
Legato- smoothly, well connected
Legatissimo- very smoothly
Leggiero- lightly
Leicht- lightly
Lento- slowly
Ligato- alternative spelling for legato
L’istesso tempo- at the same tempo
Lusingando- flattering, in a coaxing intimate manner
Ma no troppo- but not too much
Maestoso- majestically
Marc., marcato- marked, emphasized
Marcato il basso- emphasize the bass
Martellato- hammered out
Mento forte- less loudly
Meno mosso- slower
mf, mezzo forte- moderately loud
Moderato- at a moderate speed
Molto- [...]

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Glossary D-G

Da capo al fine- return to the beginning and continue until the word Fine
Dal segno al Fine- repeat from the sign until FIne
Decresc., decrescendo- gradually becoming softer
Dim., diminuendo- gradually becoming softe
Dolce- sweetly
Dolcissimo- very sweetly
Energico- with energy
Espressive- with expression
f, forte- loud
ff, fortissimo- very loud
fff, fortissimente- extremely loud
Fine- the end of the piece
fp, forte piano- loud then [...]

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Glossary A-C

Accel., accelerando- gradually becoming faster
Ad lib., Ad libitum- at pleasure, quite freely
Adagio- slowly
Allargando- becoming broader
Allegretto- moderately fast
Allegro- lively and fast
Allegro burlesco- lively, in a jesting manner
Allegro moderato- moderately lively
Allegro vivace- very lively
Andante- moving alone
Andante con moto- moving along
Andantino- similar to andante
Animato- with animation
Assai- very
A tempo- return to the former speed
Calando- becoming softer and slower
Cantabile- in [...]

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