Leggiero (musical articulation)
Leggiero is an Italian musical term meaning “lightly” or “with ease.” It directs performers to play a passage with a delicate, airy touch, often contrasted with heavier articulations like marcato or forte.
Tempo, Dynamics & Italian Terms
Explore Tempo, Dynamics & Italian Terms with music dictionary guides to speed, volume, expression, and performance directions.
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Niente (musical term)
Niente is an Italian musical term meaning “nothing.” It directs performers to produce an extremely soft, near‑silent sound, often used at the beginning or end of a phrase to create a dramatic fade‑in or fade‑out.
Rubato
Rubato is an expressive musical technique that allows performers to subtly vary the tempo for emotional effect. It involves flexible speeding up or slowing down of the beat without altering the overall pulse.
Andante (tempo marking)
Andante is an Italian tempo indication meaning “walking pace,” commonly used in Western classical music to denote a moderate, steady speed. It lies between slower tempos such as Adagio and faster ones like Allegro, and is often specified with metronome markings ranging from 76 to 108 beats per minute.
A Tempo (musical term)
A tempo is an Italian musical directive meaning “return to the original tempo” after a temporary change such as a ritardando or accelerando.
Allegretto (tempo marking)
Allegretto is a musical tempo indication meaning a moderately fast, light, and graceful speed, positioned between Andante and Allegro.
Con Moto (musical term)
Con moto is an Italian musical expression meaning “with motion,” used to indicate that a passage should be played with a sense of forward momentum without a precise metronic speed.
Scherzando (musical term)
Scherzando is an Italian musical directive meaning “playfully” or “jokingly.” It guides performers to adopt a light, brisk, and whimsical character, often influencing tempo, articulation, and dynamics.
Tranquillo (musical term)
Tranquillo is an Italian expression marking a calm, peaceful character or tempo in music, guiding performers to play with gentle ease.