The Italian Language

Learn about the Italian language, grammar, vocabulary and culture

Updated 9 July 2008

Musical Technique

Here are a few words to do with musical technique.

Italian	English
da capo (d.c.)	from the head. From the beginning
dal segno	from the sign
tenuta	the sign representing tenuto
glissando strisciando	Sliding. Glissando is not Italian. Prefer strisciando
arpeggio	from arpeggiare/to play in the manner of a harp. A chord in which notes are played in succession instead of together
apoggiatura	from appoggio/support. A grace note
acciaccatura	from ciaccare( schiacciare)/smash. A short grace note
fermata	From fermare/to stop. The name of the pause symbol.
lo stesso tempo l’istesso tempo	the same time. Prefer lo stesso
8va	from ottava/octave
melodia	melody
sul ponticello	on the bridge (violin, guitar)
sul legno	on the wood (violin, guitar)
pizzicato	plucked with the fingers (violin, cello)
legato	slurred
legatissimo	very slurred
staccatissimo	very separated
una corda due corde tre corde	1 string/ 2 strings/ 3 strings (piano)
con sordino senza sordino	with pedal/ without pedal (piano)
coll’arco col arco	with the bow (violin, cello) prefer coll’arco or, in modern Italian, con l’arco
pedale (ped.)	pedal (piano)
accompagnato	from accompagnare/to accompany. Indicates the orchestra must follow the performer
coperto	covered (timpani)
concertato	from concertare. A style characterised by the opposition between solos and orchestra.
bocca chiusa	mouth closed. A signing technique
chiuso	From chiudere/to close. With the mute (horn, trumpet)
a cappella	in the style of the chapel: choral signing without instrumental accompaniment.
coloratura	a florid vocal line
attacca	from attaccare/to attack: the following movement should be played without break
alla fine	to the end
obbligato	from obbligare/to oblige. It now means optional
breve	brief. A note the length of two semibreves.
semibreve	half-brief. Half a breve. The longest single note now in common use.
mano sinistra (m.s.)	left hand
mano destra (m.d.)	right hand