Here's a really quick way of testing if you've learned the meanings of the key words in this section.
Look at the key word on the left and see if you can remember its definition.
If you get stuck, you can be shown a hint on the right to reveal an image that should help you remember.
To check if you're right, or remind you if you've forgotten, press "Reveal".
Go through the whole list to see how many definitions you can recall.
Revisit any that you had difficulty remembering until you're confident you can
recall all of them.
The adder, she goes (adagio) very slowly so we have to wait for her.
Adagio is even slower than lento.
Examples of adagio in a sentence
She played it as adagio throughout, bringing a dreamy, almost surreal aspect to what has traditionally been a more vibrant violin solo.
First, she skipped quickly and lightly through the piece; for contrast, she then played it adagio, more contemplatively, slowing the pace, delighting the audience.
There are two adagio sections in the third movement; their slow pace and bleak notes tug at the audience's heartstrings.
I took my dog and auntie (andante) for a walk at a medium speed.
Andante is used to describe music with a relatively slow, moderate pace. You could be asked to play andante particularly in classical music. It is sometimes described as "at a walking pace".
Examples of andante in a sentence
The review said the performance was mediocre because the orchestra overdid the andante, playing everything at a medium speed.
The pace slowed until the orchestra settled into a steady andante.
Too much andante in the piece robs it of its intended character, which is taciturn and at times unpredictable unless you've heard it many times.
Note: In music, cantabile, an Italian word, means literally "singable" or "songlike". In instrumental music it is a particular style of playing designed to imitate the voice.
Tonight they proved you can't table lay (cantabile) while singing opera.
Examples of cantabile in a sentence
The sing-song cantabile style was inappropriate for that particular movement.
Cantabile is okay if you like your instrumentals to sound like voices, but I prefer punchier sounds myself.
When they played cantabile, it was hard to tell if wind instruments or voices were making the haunting sounds.
Gradually getting quieter and slowing down.Answer: Diminuendo
Diminuendo – Gradually getting quieter and slowing down
(Pronounced dih-min-yoo-en-doh)
The sound of the foghorn will dim in the end (diminuendo): as you speed away from the shore it will gradually get quieter.Now the noise is less he can gradually slow down too.
Note: Decrescendo means to decrease in volume while diminuendo means to decrease in volume and slow down.
Examples of diminuendo in a sentence
The violinist introduced diminuendo at the end of her performance, slowing the pace and reducing volume almost to the point of inaudibility.
His first diminuendo impressed the audience, maintaining the lively character of the piece while it became slower and quieter.
The fast pace and high volume diminished gradually into diminuendo, changing the mood from celebration to introspection.
They met to sew (mezzo) exactly half way between their houses.
Note: Mezzo is the Italian word for "half", "middle" or "medium".
Examples of mezzo in a sentence
She explained to him that mezzo meant "half", or "moderately"; now he understood that a mezzo singer was halfway between a soprano and a contralto, and that mezzo-forte meant half, or moderately, loud.
Her mezzo voice was ideal for the song because she could not sing high or low, but halfway in between.
The lexicographer wrote that mezzo was a mid-18th Century Italian word that came from the Latin "medius", meaning "middle".
We only need to change one letter to remember the definition of this word.
Change the o to an e should be enough to remember this word.
Examples of moderato in a sentence
The first sonata in the series is marked moderato, to be played at a medium tempo.
Although the sheet music said it should be played moderato, she attacked the test piece at blistering speed and was not offered a place at the conservatoire.
He decided it would be fun to speed up the piece, even though it was supposed to be played moderato.
Note: Poco is often used in the context of "poco a poco" which means "little by little" - e.g., "Accelerando poco a poco" means "accelerate little by little".
Their Thursday night poker (poco) game was a little treat after a hard week's scavenging.
Examples of mezzo in a sentence
As each instrument is introduced to the piece, the sound builds poco a poco until it becomes fully orchestral.
The song slows down poco a poco rather than suddenly changing tempo, then builds back up in the same way, little by little.
Her voice fades poco a poco towards the end of the recording, trailing off into nothingness.
An immediate, or sudden, reduction in speed or tempo.Answer: Ritenuto (riten. or rit.)
Ritenuto (riten. or rit.) – an immediate, or sudden, reduction in speed or tempo
(Pronounced ree-tuh-noo-toh)
Please believe that I have written you too (ritenuto) but the postal service strike may suddenly slow down my letter.
Examples of ritenuto in a sentence
The musical piece moves from fast to slow so suddenly it takes the audience by surprise: that is the effect of ritenuto.
In film scores, ritenuto is an accepted technique used to signal a change of atmosphere to cinemagoers.
The ritenuto - a sudden change from the upbeat to the slow and dreamy - was quite abrupt; on the dance floor, there was an inevitable awkwardness while everybody adjusted.
