Specialising in
ADULT MUSIC EDUCATION
Small group classes
Ainslie Arts Centre & Online
GLOSSARY OF MUSICAL TERMS:
E - I
Effetto
Effect, impression.
Eguale
Equal; even, smooth.
Elegante
In an elegant, graceful, refined style.
Elegie
Encore
Again.
Enfatico
With emphasis, emphatic.
Enharmonic tones
Tones derived from different scale degrees, but practically identical in pitch.
Episode
An intermdiate of incidental section; in a fugue, a digression from the principal theme, interpolated between developments of the latter.
Espressivo
With expression, expressively.
Esquisse
A sketch.
Estinto
Barely audible; the extreme of pianissimo.
Estremamente
Extremely.
Étude
A study; es[ecially, one affording practice in some particular technical difficulty.
Etwas
Rather, somewhat.
Exposition
1. The opening section of a sonata, sonatina or sonata movement, in which the principal themes are presented for the first time. 2. Sections of a fugue that present the subject.
Expression mark
A written direction (a sign, symbol, word or phrase) for the performance of a piece.
Fantastico
Fantastic, fanciful.
F clef
The bass clef.
Facile
Facile, easy, fluent.
Feroce
Wild, fierce, vehement.
Fervente
Fervently, ardently, passionately.
Festivamente
In a festive style.
Fieramente
Wildly, boldly.
Fifteenth
A double octave.
Fifth
An interval of five diatonic degrees. Also, the fifth degree of any diatonic scale; the dominant.
Fine
End; close.
Form
A concept or organisation governing the structure, order, character, meter and key of a composition.
Forte
Loud, strong; usually written f.
Fortissimo
Very loud; usually written ff.
Forzando
With force, energy; means that the note or chord is to be strongly accented; usually written fz.
Fourth
An interval embracing four scale degrees. Also, the fourth degree in the diatonic scale; the subdominant.
Fremente
Furiously.
Garbamente
Gracefully, elegantly; in a refined style.
Gaudioso
Joyous, jubilant.
Generoso
Free, ample.
Geschwindt
Swift, rapid.
Gioviale
Jovial, cheerful.
Giubilante
Jubilant.
Giustamente
Exactly, with precision.
Grandioso
With grandeur; majestivally, loftily.
Grave
Heavy, slow, ponderous.
Grazia, con
With grave; elegantly.
Grosso
Great, grand; full, heavy.
Grottesco
Grotesque, comic.
Harmonic minor scale
A minor scale with the raised seventh degree providing a leading note; the order of intervals is: tone, semitone, tone, tone, semitone, tone-and-a-half, semitone.
Heftig
Vehement, impetuous, passionate.
Humoresque
A light, whimsical instrumental piece, often for piano.
Idèe fixe
Fixed idea; a term used by Hector Berlioz with reference to his Symphonie fantastique to denote its recurrent theme.
Imitando
Imitating
Imitation
The repetition of a motive, phrase, or theme proposed by one part (the antecedent) in another part (the consequent), with or without modification.
Impetuoso
Impetuosly, vehemently.
Imponente
Imposing, impressive.
Inciso
Incisive, sharply marked.
Indeciso
Irresolute, undecided.
Infino
Up to, as far as, until you reach.
Ingenuamente
Naturally, ingenuously.
Iniziale
Initial; the first.
Innig
Heartfelt, sincere, fervent, intense.
Innocente
Innocently, artlessly.
Inquieto
Unrestful, uneasy.
Insensible
Imperceptible.
Interval
The difference in pitch between two notes.
Intimissimo
Very tenderly, warmly.
Intimo
Heartfelt, fervent.
Ionian mode
The ecclesiastical mode corresponding to a major scale; the order of intervals is: tone, tone, semitone, tone, tone, tone, semitone.
Irresoluto
Irresolute, undecided; vacillating.
Istesso
Same.