Born: July 18, 1821, ParisDied: May 18, 1910, Paris (age 88)
glossary
allegretto—moderately quick tempo. slower than allegro but faster than andante
allegro [I]—fast, lively tempo. From the Italian word for cheerful or gay.
andante [I]—moderately slow tempo (e.g. walking). Faster than adagio but slower than allegretto
chamber music, Kammermusik [G], musique de chambre [F], musica da camera [I], musica cameralis [L]—"Classical Music" for a small ensemble, generally 8 or fewer players with a canonical emphasis on 3-6 players. explore
duo, duet, dueto [S], duetto [I], duett [G]—a work for two instruments; the ensemble itself
e [It]—and
energico, con energia, énergique [F], avec énergie [F], energisch [G]—with energy, force, vigor and power
espressivo [It], con espressione, expressif [Fr]—expressive, with expression.with feeling
finale [I], final [F]—The final movement, sometimes explicitly titled thus
legato [I]—smooth, connected, slurred, bound together
leggiero, leggero, con leggerezza, léger [F], légèrement, avec légèreté—lightly, nimbly, quick, graceful
moderato [I], moderamente, modéré [F], modérément [F]—moderately, at a moderate tempo, applying a touch of restraint to its related word(s), e.g. allegro moderato
molto [It]—very much
scherzo—lively, brisk, typically in a triple meter; usually a three-part form with central, contrasting trio
sonata, sonate, suonato—a complicated term. Originally, "sounded" rather than "sung" (sonar vs. cantar), e.g. instrumental music. According to historical period, sonata began to imply a formal plan of movements as well as the structure within a single movement, e.g. sonata form. In general usage as a work title, it designates a multi-movement piece for solo or duo instruments with one of the instruments enjoying a feature role.