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A flexible tempo that allows performers to speed up or slow down for expressive purposes. Example: Chopin's piano works are often played with rubato to enhance their emotional depth.

A combination of notes that is harmonious and stable. Example: The chords in Pachelbel's 'Canon in D Major' are consonant and pleasing.

A dynamic marking indicating a medium-loud volume level. Example: A section of a Beethoven sonata marked 'mezzo forte' should be played with moderate intensity.

A continuous slide upward or downward between two notes. Example: The glissando on the harp in Debussy's 'Clair de Lune' adds a dreamy quality to the piece.

An honorific title for a master musician, often a conductor. Example: Arturo Toscanini was known as a maestro who led orchestras with great skill.

An emphasis on a particular note or chord. Example: Accents in music can be signified by the symbol '>', indicating the note should be played with more force.

A dynamic marking indicating a gradual decrease in volume. Example: A decrescendo is skillfully employed in the closing section of Ravel's 'Bolero', gradually fading away.

A style of playing notes in a marked, emphatic manner. Example: The marcato passages in Stravinsky's 'The Firebird' make the melody stand out sharply against the accompaniment.

A tempo marking indicating a fast or lively pace. Example: Beethoven's Symphony No. 6 has movements marked 'allegro' for a joyful expression.

The process of changing from one key to another within a piece. Example: The modulation in the bridge of 'Over the Rainbow' gives a sense of journey and arrival.

A tempo marking indicating a slow and leisurely pace. Example: Barber's 'Adagio for Strings' is a poignant piece that exemplifies the adagio tempo.

A musical term indicating a sweet, gentle, or soft style of playing or singing. Example: The dolce melody of Schubert's 'Ave Maria' lulls the listener into a state of serenity.

A dynamic marking indicating to play very softly, quieter than piano. Example: Debussy's 'Reverie' features delicate pianissimo passages that evoke a sense of whispering calm.

A combination of notes that sounds unstable or tense. Example: The dissonance in Stravinsky's 'The Rite of Spring' evokes a sense of unease.

A short musical pattern that is repeated throughout a piece or a section of a piece. Example: The ostinato bass line in Ravel's 'Bolero' provides a foundation over which the melody evolves.

The degree of loudness or softness in music. Example: The dynamics in a passage like Rossini's 'William Tell Overture' can range from very soft to very loud.

A sequence of chords that concludes a musical phrase, either within a section of a piece or at the end of a piece. Example: A 'perfect cadence' from V to I gives a strong sense of resolution in classical music.

A dynamic marking indicating to play very loudly, more so than forte. Example: The fortissimo sections in Shostakovich's 'Symphony No. 5' help create its bold and powerful character.

The quality or color of a musical sound that distinguishes different types of sound production, such as voices and musical instruments. Example: The distinct timbre of a cello separates it from a violin.

A tempo marking indicating a very slow and broad pace. Example: The 'Largo' from Dvorak's 'New World Symphony' is reflective and expansive.

A rapid alternation between two adjacent notes, usually a semitone or tone apart. Example: The trill is heard often in Baroque music, like the trills in Bach's 'Brandenburg Concertos'.

A tempo marking indicating a moderately slow pace, walking speed. Example: Mozart's 'Piano Sonata No. 16 in C Major' has andante passages that convey a sense of calm and balance.

The art of combining distinct melodic lines in a musical composition. Example: Bach's 'Art of Fugue' exhibits intricate counterpoint with multiple independent melodies woven together.

A dynamic marking indicating to play softly. Example: The opening of Beethoven's 'Moonlight Sonata' should be played 'piano' to convey the gentle mood.

A dynamic marking that signals a gradual increase in volume. Example: The crescendo in Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture showcases a dramatic rise in intensity.

The combination of different musical notes played or sung at the same time. Example: The chorus of 'Amazing Grace' showcases simple but powerful harmony.

The quick repetition of a single note or alternation between two or more notes, which can create a trembling effect. Example: The strings playing tremolo in the opening of Bernard Herrmann's score for 'Psycho' create an eerie sensation.

Playing the notes of a chord consecutively, rather than simultaneously. Example: The piano intro of Beethoven's 'Moonlight Sonata' consists of rolling arpeggios.

A contrapuntal composition where a short melody or phrase is introduced by one part and successively taken up by others. Example: One of the most renowned fugues is Bach's 'Fugue in G minor', also known as the 'Little Fugue'.

A style of playing where notes are performed sharply and detached. Example: The staccato notes in Scott Joplin's 'The Entertainer' make it lively and spirited.

A dynamic marking indicating to play loudly and then immediately softly. Example: This effect is used by Beethoven in his 'Fifth Symphony' to create dramatic tension.

The displacement of the usual accents in music caused by stressing beats that are normally unaccented. Example: The syncopated rhythms in ragtime give it a distinctive bouncy feel.

A dynamic marking indicating to play loudly. Example: In Bach's 'Toccata and Fugue in D minor', the forte sections provide a bold and striking sound.

A style of playing that is smooth and connected. Example: Chopin's 'Nocturnes' often require a legato touch to convey the fluidity of the music.

A musical term referring to notes that are sustained, or held, longer than their notated value. Example: The sostenuto pedal on the piano allows for certain notes to be held while others are played staccato.

A musical term meaning 'very' and is used to intensify other directives. Example: 'Molto allegro' indicates a very fast tempo, often found in Mozart's faster movements.

A dynamic marking indicating a medium-soft volume level. Example: A piano piece may shift from mezzo forte to mezzo piano to create a more subdued dynamic range.

A sudden, strong accent on a note or chord. Example: The sforzando chords in Tchaikovsky's 'Piano Concerto No. 1' create a commanding presence.

A tempo marking indicating a gradual decrease in speed. Example: The ritardando at the end of a song like Frank Sinatra's 'My Way' adds a sense of closure.

A tempo marking indicating a lively and fast pace, faster than allegro. Example: The third movement of Vivaldi's 'Spring' from 'The Four Seasons' is marked 'vivace'.

A musical symbol indicating that a note or chord should be held longer than its natural duration. Example: A fermata over a note in a choral piece might signal the conductor's discretion to hold the note as desired.

The distance between two pitches. Example: An 'octave' is an interval spanning eight notes on the scale.

A symbol that marks a spot to which the player will return. Example: 'Dal Segno' means to go back to the segno sign, often used in repeats.

A directive to repeat from the beginning of the piece. Example: 'Da Capo al Fine' indicates that the player should return to the start and continue until they reach the word 'Fine'.