Music Terms
Mark
your music! A pencil is a must at all
rehearsals. Choral shorthand is an
individual matter. Whatever method you
have used is fine - so long as it is meaningful
to you. Here are a few notations you might
find helpful.
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Watch,
or surprise entrance, tempo change, etc. |
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Tempo
control! Any problem or dragging,
rushing or other time-related factor. |
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Follow
release or crescendo release. |
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Circle
any pitch where error has been made.
Also circle pitch in another part to help. |
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Arrow
upward under the note if note is higher
than thought. Arrow downward above
note if note is lower than thought. |
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Cut
off on, the fourth beat in this example. |
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Listen!
Arrow to another part for imitation of
sound, theme, duet, etc. |
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Hold
note and sustain intensely to the release. |
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Arrows
indicate early consonants. |
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Stress
a note. |
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Accent,
stronger than stress, indicating marcato -
usually separated. |
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"Ben
Marcato," accents with no separation. |
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Super
Accent. |
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Poco
Detache - Slight separation of the
notes. Used frequently when notes
are repeated on the same pitch. |
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Changing
a half note to a dotted quarter with an
eighth rest. Done to allow for a
quick breath. |
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Changing
a quarter note to an eighth note with an
eighth rest. |
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The
following are standard markings on scores of
music:
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Staccato:
detached, shortened |
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Tuento:
long note |
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Crescendo
(cresc.) - Always draw the hairpin in all
parts. |
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Diminuendo
(dim.) or Decrescendo (decresc.) - Always
draw the hairpin in all parts. |
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Messa
di voce, crescendo and decrescendo over
the same note. |
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Hold,
or fermata |
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Breathing
marks |
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Adagio
= Slow
Largo = Broad
Lento = Slow
Grave = heavy
Andante = moving (at a walking pace)
Moderato = Moderate
Allegro = Quick
Vivance = Lively
Presto = Very fast (quicker than allegro)
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Qualifying terms: The meaning of these terms
can be intensified or reduced by adding:
molto
= more
meno = less
assai = very
Some
indication for changing TEMPO:
accelerando
(accel.) = to accelerate
stringendo (string) = becoming faster &
more intense
pui mosso - more motion (faster)
ritardando (rit.) = retard
rallentando (rall.) = retard or slacken
allargando = broaden
meno mosso = less motion
ritenuto (riten.) = hold back
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The
graduation of a change of some length is marked
with appropriate adjective:
poco
a poco = little by little
The
following terms means a simultaneous reduction of
TEMPO and DYNAMIC:
callando
= decrease
morendo = dying down
smorzando - dying away
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Restoration
of the main tempo is marked:
a
tempo
tempo primo
Dynamics:
fortissimo
= very loud
forte = loud
mezzo forte = half loud (mezzo m=half)
mezzo piano = half soft
piano = soft
pianissimo = very soft
Terms
of DYNAMIC change:
crscendo
(cresc.) = gradually louder
descrescendo (decres.) = gradually softer
Diminuendo (dim.) = gradually softer
subito (sub.) = sudden! Immediately!
LINE:
dolce
= sweet
legato (leg.) = smoothly
marcato (marc.) = marked or emphatic
staccato = separated
esspressive (esp.) = expressively
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