1. Tempo, Mood, Dynamics & Articulation

3. Tempo Italian Meaning BPM largo Broad & slow 40-60 bpm larghetto
Still broad, not so slow
60-66 bpm
adagio
Bit faster than largo
66-76 bpm
andante
Walking pace
bpm
moderato
Moderate speed
bpm
allegro
Quick & lively
bpm
vivace
Very lively
bpm
presto
Really fast
bpm

4. Tempo Italian Abbreviation Meaning accelerando accel. Speeding up
rallentando
rall.
Slowing down
ritenuto
rit.
Holding back the pace
allargando
allarg.
Slowing down, getting a bit louder
rubato
rub.
Can be flexible with pace of music
fermata
Pause – longer than a whole beat
a tempo
Back to the original tempo

5. Mood Italian Meaning agitato agitated alla marcia in a march style
amoroso
loving
calmato
calm
dolce
soft and sweet
energico
energetic
giocoso
playful, humorous
grandioso
grandly
pesante
heavy
risoluto
resolute – strong, confident, bold
sospirando
sighing
trionfale
triumphant

6. Dynamics Symbol stands for meaning Pianissimo Very quiet piano quiet
Mezzo piano
Fairly quiet
Mezzo Forte
Fairly loud
forte
loud
fortissimo
Very loud
Crescendo (cresc.)
Getting louder
Diminuendo (dim.)
Getting quieter

7. Articulation
Staccato
Slur