Lesson 1: Words for Singing Voices, Words for Tempos (Rates of Speed) of Musical Compositions, Words for Dynamics (Degrees of Loudness), Words for Musical Effects, Words Dealing With Musical Compositions

Let's explore the beautiful spectrum of human singing voices, from the deepest lows to the highest highs, all thanks to these Italian terms.

Key Words

Example Usage

• The crowd gave a standing ovation to the coloratura for her amazing performance of the difficult, ornamented passages.
• In a choir, the lowest female voice is the contralto, while the lowest male voice is the basso.
• To hit those incredibly high notes, the singer switched from his natural voice to a falsetto, an artificially high voice.

Ready to pick up the pace? Or maybe slow it down? These Italian words act as the 'speed signs' for musicians.

Key Words

Example Usage

• If you think a presto tempo is fast, a piece marked prestissimo is played at an even more rapid pace.
• The beginning of the symphony is marked grave, indicating it should be played at the slowest possible tempo.
• The romantic ballad had an andante tempo, meaning it was played moderately slow, with a nice, flowing rhythm.

Let's turn the volume up... or down! These words are all about how loud or soft the music should be.

Key Words

Example Usage

• The term piano can refer to the large keyboard instrument or the musical instruction to play softly.
• The song builds excitement with a long crescendo, getting gradually louder until the final, powerful note.
• The lullaby ended on a pianissimo note, so soft it was almost a whisper.

Now for some musical magic! These terms describe the special techniques that add flair, emotion, and texture to a performance.

Key Words

Example Usage

• Instead of using her bow, the violinist used a pizzicato technique, plucking the strings to create a unique, percussive sound.
• To create a sense of drama, the cellist used a tremolo, a rapid, trembling repetition of a single chord.
• The fast-paced march used mostly staccato notes, which are played abruptly and disconnected from each other, unlike smooth legato notes.

From grand plays set to music to pieces for a single instrument, these words give us the language to talk about different kinds of musical works.

Key Words

Example Usage

• Performing a solo feels too intimidating, but I would love to sing a duet with my friend.
• The orchestra's concerto featured a brilliant pianist accompanied by the full string and wind sections.
• The conductor motioned for the tutti section, where every single instrument plays together for a powerful sound in the symphony's finale.