List of Italian musical terms used in English#Roles

! bgcolor="#ddffdd" | Italian term

! bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | Literal translation

! bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Definition

| bgcolor="#f8f8fd" | in chapel style

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Sung with no (instrumental) accompaniment, has much harmonizing

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" |air

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Piece of music, usually for a singer

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | sorbet air

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | A short solo performed by a secondary character in the opera

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | little air

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | A short or light aria

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | airy

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | A type of solo opera or operetta

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | danceable

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | (song) to be danced to

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | battle

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | An instrumental or vocal piece suggesting a battle

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | from Bergamo

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | A peasant dance from Bergamo

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | a little joke

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | A light comic or farcical opera

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | from copola (couplet)

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | A two-part musical form

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | falling

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | A florid solo at the end of a performance

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | sung

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | A piece for orchestra and singers

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | caprice

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | A lively piece, free in form, often used to show musical skill

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | small instrumental tone

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | A simple melody or song

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | tail

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | The end of a piece

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | concert

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | A work for one or more solo instruments accompanied by an orchestra

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | little concert

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | A short concerto; the solo instrument in a concerto

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | big concert

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | A Baroque form of concerto, with a group of solo instruments

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | from the head aria

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | A three-section musical form

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | jocular drama

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | A form of opera

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | drama for music

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Libretto

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | fantasy

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | A musical composition or “idea” typified by improvisation

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | farce

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | A one-act comical opera

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | theatrical party

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | A genre of opera

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | flowery

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | A highly embellished vocal line

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | intermediate

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | A short connecting instrumental movement – an intermezzo

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | interval

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | A short connecting instrumental movement

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | little book

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | A work containing the words to an opera, musical, or ballet

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | melodrama

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | A style of opera

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | work

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | A drama set to music for singers and instrumentalists

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | humorous opera

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | A comic opera

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | semi-serious opera

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | A variety of opera

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | serious opera

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | An opera with a serious, esp. classical theme

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | little opera

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | A variety of light opera

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | oratory

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Large musical composition for orchestra, choir, and soloists

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | pastiche

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | A musical piece containing works by different composers

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | padding concert

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | A form of Baroque concerto with no solo parts

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | serenade

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | A song or composition in someone's honour. Originally, a musical greeting performed for a lover

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | carved subject

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | A musical cryptogram, using coded syllables as a basis for the composition

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | sounded

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | From c. 1750 onward, a composition for one or two instruments in sonata form

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | realism

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | A genre of operas with scenarios based on contemporary everyday life

! bgcolor="#ddffdd" | Italian term

! bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | Literal translation

! bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Definition

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | bell

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | A bell used in an orchestra; also campane "bells"

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | little horn

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | An old woodwind instrument

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | bundle

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | A bassoon, a woodwind instrument played with a double reed

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | orchestra, orig. Greek orkesthai "dance"

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | An ensemble of instruments

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | soft-loud

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | A keyboard instrument

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | little

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | A tiny woodwind instrument

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | deaf, dull in sound

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | An archaic double-reed wind instrument

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | drums

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Large drums

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | tube

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | A large brass instrument

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | viola, orig. Latin vitulari "be joyful"

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | A medium-sized stringed instrument

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | love viola

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | A tenor viol with no frets

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | arm viola

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | A stringed instrument held in the arm, such as a violin or viola

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | leg viola

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | A stringed instrument held between the legs

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | smaller large viola

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | A large stringed instrument

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | large viola

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | A large stringed instrument in the bass or contra-bass range

! bgcolor="#ddffdd" | Italian term

! bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | Literal translation

! bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Definition

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | high

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Second-highest vocal line

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | low

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Or "bass;" the lowest vocal line

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | deep low

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | A very deep bass voice

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | castrated

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | A male singer, castrated before puberty so as to be able to sing soprano (now sung by women, conventional countertenors, or sopranisti)

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | colouring soprano

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | A soprano specialised in complex, ornamented melody

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | against high

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Alto, esp. a female alto

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | little false

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | A vocal register immediately above the modal voice range

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" |

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Falsetto, sung using the usual techniques of modal voice register

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" |

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | See tenore di grazia

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | musician

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Originally, a trained musician; later, a castrato or female singer

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | middle-upper

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Between soprano and alto

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | crossing

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | A vocal range

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | upper

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | The highest vocal line

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | unlimited soprano

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | A soprano who has extended her upper range beyond the usual range of a soprano

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | pushed

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | A forceful voice, between the lyric and dramatic in weight

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | pushed soprano

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | A soprano whose voice, while normally of lyric weight and fluidity, can be pushed to a more forceful weight

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | ringing

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | The resonant clarity of an operatic singer's voice

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" |

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | A tenor voice capable of a slightly higher range of sustainable notes than usual

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | tenor of grace or lightweight tenor

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | A lightweight, flexible tenor voice

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | texture

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | A singer's comfortable range

! bgcolor="#ddffdd" | Italian term

! bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | Literal translation

! bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Definition

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | accelerating

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Accelerating

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | accompanied

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | The accompaniment must follow the singer who can speed up or slow down at will.

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | ad agio, at ease

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Slow and easy (but not as slow as largo)

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | a bit at ease

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | 1. Slightly less easy than adagio (so slightly faster); 2. a short adagio composition

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | becoming hurried

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Accelerating

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | as a march

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | In strict tempo at a marching pace (e.g. 120{{nbsp}}BPM)

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | broadening

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Slowing down and broadening; becoming more stately and majestic, possibly louder

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | joyful; lively and fast

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Joyful; moderately fast tempo

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | a little bit joyful

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Slightly less joyful than allegro (so slightly slower tempo)

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | walking

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | At a walking pace; flowing; moderately slow tempo

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | a little bit walking

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Less of a walking pace than andante (so slightly quicker)

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | to time

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Return to previous tempo

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | held, stopped, orig. Latin firmo "make firm, fortify"

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Holding or sustaining a note

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | grave, solemn

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Slow and solemn tempo (slower than largo)

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | broad

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Slow and dignified tempo

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | broadly

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Slow and dignified tempo

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | broad-ish

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Slightly less dignified than largo (so slightly faster tempo)

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | slow

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Slow tempo

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | slowing

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Decelerating, slowing down

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | the same time

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | At the same tempo

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | moderate

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Moderate tempo

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | moved, agitated

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Agitated

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | prompt, quick; ready for action

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Very fast

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | very prompt, very quick

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Very very fast (above 200{{nbsp}}BPM)

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | slowing down

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Decelerating

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | retarding

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Decelerating

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | slow, tardy

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Slow tempo

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | time

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | The speed of music; e.g. 120{{nbsp}}BPM (beats per minute)

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | robbed

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Free flowing and exempt from steady rhythm

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | sustained

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Holding or sustaining a single note

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | vivacious

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Fast and lively tempo (quicker than allegro)

! bgcolor="#ddffdd" | Italian term

! bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | Literal translation

! bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Definition

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | quietening

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Becoming softer and slower

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | growing

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Becoming louder

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | shrinking

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Becoming softer

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | dwindling

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Becoming softer

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | strong

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Loud

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | very strong

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Very loud

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | half-strong

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Moderately loud

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | marked

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | A note played forcefully

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | placing the voice

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | A style of singing involving changing volume while holding a single note

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | gentle

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Soft

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | very gentle

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Very soft

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | half-gentle

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Moderately soft

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | strained

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Sharply accented

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | in the manner of Stentor

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Loud, boisterous

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | trembling

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | A rapid, repetitive variation in the volume or pitch of a note

! bgcolor="#ddffdd" | Italian term

! bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | Literal translation

! bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Musical definition

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | with abandonment

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | With abandonment, prioritizing expression before time and tempo

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | caressingly

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Caressing, expressive

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | lit up, ignited

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Ignited, ardent, passionate, on fire

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | breathless

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Anguished, troubled

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | affectionate, with affect

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Loving, tender

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | hasty, hurried

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Hurrying, in a rushing manner

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | agitated

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Agitated, restless, excited

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | amiable

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Lovely, pleasant

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | loving

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Loving, tender

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | animated

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Lively, animated

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | brilliant

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Bright, radiant

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | brusquely

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Abruptly, bluntly

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | singable, songlike

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | In a singing fashion

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | colossal

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Huge, broad, immense

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | comfortable

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Comfortable, leisurely, in moderate speed

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | with love

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | With love

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | with brightness

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Bright, vigorous, with spirit

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | with fire

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Passionate, lively, enthusiastic

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | with motion

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Energetic, with movement

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | with spirit

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Vigorous, spirited

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | decisive

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Determined, firm, resolute

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | sweet

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Sweet, soft

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | dramatic

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Dramatic

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | expressive

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Expressive, with feeling

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | ferocious

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Fierce, heavy

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | festive

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Merry, jolly, happy

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | furious

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Angry, passionate, rapid

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | jocose, jestful

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Playful, spirited

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | grand

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Grandiose, noble, great

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | gracious, graceful

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Graceful, flowing

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | lachrymose

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Grieving, sad

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | lamenting

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Mournful, sorrowful

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | majestic

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Stately, dignified, broad

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | mysterious

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Mysterious, secretive, enigmatic

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | dying

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Dying away, becoming quiet and/or slow

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | heavy

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Heavy, ponderous, slow

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | resolute

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Determined, bold, decisive

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | joking, jestful

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Playful, jestful, sportive, lively

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | solitary

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Lonely, alone

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | under the voice

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Subdued, soft, hushed

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | sonorous

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Broad, resonant, resounding

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | simply

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Simply, plainly

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | passionately hurl or fling, lance

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Enthusiastic, with momentum

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | tranquil, calm

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Calm, soft, peaceful

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | flying

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Free, light, fast

! bgcolor="#ddffdd" | Italian term

! bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | Literal translation

! bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Usage

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | very; much

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Comes before other terms; e.g. molto allegro ("very cheerful")

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | very; aplenty

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Comes after other terms; e.g. allegro assai ("very cheerful")

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | more

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Comes before other terms; e.g. più mosso ("more moved/agitated")

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | little

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Comes before other terms; e.g. poco diminuendo ("a little diminishing")

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | little by little

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | "Slowly but steadily." Comes before other terms; e.g. poco a poco crescendo ("increasing little by little")

| bgcolor="#ddffdd" | Ma non tanto

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | but not so much

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Comes after other terms; e.g. adagio ma non tanto ("not quite at ease")

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | but not too much

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Comes after other terms; e.g. allegro ma non troppo ("not too joyful")

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | less

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Comes before other terms, such as meno mosso ("less moved/agitated")

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | suddenly, quickly

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Comes before or after other terms; e.g. subito fortissimo ("suddenly very loud")

! bgcolor="#ddffdd" | Italian term

! bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | Literal translation

! bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Definition

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | gap

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | A silent pause in a piece of music

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | from o ("or") + sia ("that it be")

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | A secondary passage of music which may be played in place of the original

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | stubborn, obstinate

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | A repeated motif or phrase in a piece of music

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | thought out

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | A composed imaginary note

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | little return

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | A recurring passage in a piece of Baroque music

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | it follows

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | A smooth movement from one passage to another with no pause

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | similar

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Continue applying the preceding directive, whatever it was, to the following passage

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | tightened, strict

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | In a fugue, the repeating of a motif by a second voice before the first rendition is completed

! bgcolor="#ddffdd" | Italian term

! bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | Literal translation

! bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Definition

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | attach, begin

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Proceed to the next section without pause

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | change

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Any change, such as to a new instrument

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | from the beginning (to the "fine")

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Abbreviated as D.C., informs the performer to go back to the beginning (capo) (finishing where the part is marked fine).

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | from the sign

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Abbreviated as D.S., informs the performer to repeat a specific section marked by a sign (segno).

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | divided

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Instructs one section to divide into two or more separate sections, each playing a separate part. Often these separate parts are written on the same staff.

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | from o ("or") + pure ("also")

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Informs the player of alternative ways to play a passage. See Ossia.

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | alone

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | A piece or performance to be played by a single musician

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | Group solo

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | A piece or performance to be played by a designated group

! bgcolor="#ddffdd" | Italian term

! bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | Literal translation

! bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Definition

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | crunching

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | An extra, very fast grace note

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | very high

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Very high

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | leaning, supporting

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | A type of ornament that creates a "yearning" effect

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | bow

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Cancels col legno and pizzicato. (In any string passage, arco is usually expected, as it is the "default" approach; it is only ever written at the end of col legno or pizzicato passages.)

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | harp-like

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | A chord with the notes spread out in time (rather than sounded simultaneously)

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | continuous bass

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Continuous bass accompaniment by chordal instrument(s) and bass instrument(s) (see Figured bass.)

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | in closed mouth

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Wordless humming in a choral piece

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | closed

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Calls for a horn to be muted by hand.

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | colouration

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Elaborate ornamentation of a vocal line

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | covered

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Of a drum, muted with a cloth

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | one string, cord

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | On a piano, played with the soft pedal depressed

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | two strings

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | On a piano, played with the soft pedal depressed (For why both terms exist, see Piano#Pedals.)

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | three strings or all the strings

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Cancels una corda

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | gliding, glossing

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | A sweeping glide from one pitch to another used for dramatic effect

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | tied

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | A series of notes played with a smooth connection between them

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | with the wood

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Calls for a bowed instrument's strings to be struck with the wood of the bow (rather than drawn across with the hair of the bow).

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | hammered

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Of notes, strongly accented and detached

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | pinched, plucked

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Calls for a bowed instrument's strings to be plucked with the fingers.

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | carrying

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Playing with a sliding of pitch between two notes

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | carried

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Played in a style between staccato and legato

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | forcing

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Playing with strong, marked emphasis

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | discord

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Alternate tuning (of strings)

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | with sourdine (mute)

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | With mute applied, esp. to string instruments

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | without sourdine (mute)

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | With mute removed

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | separated, distinct; standing out

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | With a stringed instrument, played by bouncing the bow lightly on the strings

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | detached

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | A form of musical articulation in which notes are distinct and separated from each other by short gaps

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | very detached

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Forcefully exaggerated staccato

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | all

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Played or sung by the entire ensemble, rather than by just a soloist or principal player

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | vibrating

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Played with rapid repetitive variation or undulation in pitch

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | with the voice

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | (For accompanists) In time with the singer's text, especially when slowing for textual effect

! bgcolor="#ddffdd" | Italian term

! bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | Literal translation

! bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Definition

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | band

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Small music ensemble used as a supplement to the orchestra in an opera

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | with the first

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Supporting role

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | little concert

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Smaller, more virtuosic group of musicians in a concerto grosso

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | conveniences

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Rules relating to the ranking of singers in opera (primo, secondo, comprimario) in 19th-century Italian opera, and the number of scenes, arias, etc. that they were entitled to expect.Warrack, John and West, Ewan (1992), The Oxford Dictionary of Opera, 782 pages, {{ISBN|0-19-869164-5}} The convenienze are referred to in the Donizetti opera Le convenienze ed inconvenienze teatrali.

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | choir

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Ensemble of singers

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | divine one (fem.)

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Leading female singer

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | first lady

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Leading female role

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | first man

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Leading male role

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | refilling or stuffing

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | The larger group of musicians in a concerto grosso

! bgcolor="#ddffdd" | Italian term

! bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | Literal translation

! bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Definition

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | beautiful singing

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Any fine singing, esp. that popular in 18th- and 19th-century Italian opera

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | skill

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | A performance of extraordinary virtuosity

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | skillful

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | A cry of congratulation to a male singer or performer. (Masc. pl. bravi; fem. sing. brava; fem. pl. brave.) The use of ! after a written expression of "bravo/a/i/e(!)" strongly emphasizes it.

! bgcolor="#ddffdd" | Italian term

! bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | Literal translation

! bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Definition

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | master, teacher

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Conductor, music director, music teacher; also composer and other eminent musicians and singers

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | collaborating master

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Assistant conductor

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | substitute/deputy master

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Assistant conductor

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | master suggester/prompter

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | Prompter

| bgcolor="#f8f8f8" | season

| bgcolor="#ffdddd" | A variety of formal organisation of players and crew in the staging of operas