Musical terms

Classical music often uses Italian terms to describe the mood or tempo of a movement in an orchestral work.

Commonly used terms are:

Adagio - slow

Adagissimo - very slow

Afettuoso - affectionate, with tender emotion

Agitato - agitated, restless and wild

Alleggretto - moderately quick movement, somewhat slower than allegro

Alleggro - lively (sometimes used with other qualifiers)

Andante - a moderate tempo (walking pace)

Forte - loud

Fortissimo - very loud

Largetto - slow and broad but less so than largo

Largo - slow and broad

Piano - soft, abbreviated

Pianissimo - very soft and abbreviated

Presto - originally lively, but later the fastest speed in normal use

Prestissimo - the fastest speed possible

Vivace - lively