Music Expressions And Symbols In Violin Music
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Chord - A combination of three or more tones sounded
Melodic embellishments, either written or improvised.
simultaneously, most commonly the first, third and fifth degrees.
tr.
Trill - An ornament performed by the rapid alternation of a given
Arpeggio - A term used to describe the pitches of a chord as sung
note with a major or minor second above.
or played one after the other, rather than simultaneously.
Turn - An ornament characterized by the rapid performance of a
given note, the major or minor second above and below, and a
Scale - A succession of tones. The scale generally used in Western
return to the given note.
music is the “diatonic scale,” consisting of whole and half steps in
a specific order. Usually major or minor in classical music.
Major - The designation for certain intervals and scales resulting
in a “happy” feel. A key based on a major scale is called a major
Down bow - Drawing the bow downward from its frog.
key. The pattern for the major scale is:
Up bow- Drawing the bow upwards from the tip.
whole step- whole step - half - whole - whole - whole - half
Slur - A curved line placed above or below two or more notes of
Minor - Like Major, but with a “dark” or “sad” feel. The three
different pitch to indicate that they are to be performed in a con-
types of minor scales include natural, harmonic, and melodic. Be-
nected style and bowing.
low is the natural minor scale pattern:
Tie - A curved line over or below two or more notes of the same
whole step- half step - whole - whole - half - whole - whole
pitch. The first pitch is played and held for the duration of the
Flat - A symbol which lowers a note’s pitch one half step.
notes affected by the tie as if they are one note.
Natural - A symbol which cancels a previous sharp or flat.
Staccato - Detached sounds, indicated by a dot over or under a
Sharp - A symbol which raises a note’s pitch one-half step.
note head. The opposite of tenuto.
Tenuto - Smooth, connected. Indicated by a line over or under a
note head.
Pizzicato - "Pinched." To pluck the string with a fingertip.
pizz
Al - "To."
Coda - Closing section of a composition. An added ending.
Da capo, D. C. - Return to the beginning.
Dal segno, D. S. - Repeat from the sign. Often followed by al
Grave - Very Slow
Fine.
Largo, Lento - Slow
Larghetto - A little faster than Largo
Endings - Alternating measures which occur at the end of the
Adagio - Moderately Slow
stanza or stanzas. Indicated:
Andante - "Walking" Tempo
Fine - “The end.”
Andantino - A little faster than Andante
Repeat - The repetition of a section or a composition as indicated
Allegretto - A little slower than Allegro
by particular signs:
Allegro - “Colourful,” Fast and/or upbeat
Segno - "Sign."
Vivace - Lively
Presto - Very Fast
Prestissimo - Very Very Fast
Moderato - Moderate(ly)
Treble clef - The G clef falling on the second line of the staff.
Molto - In use with other phrases, means “Very”
Key signature - The sharps or flats placed at the beginning of the
Accel., Accelerando - Gradually becoming faster
staff to denote the scale upon which the music is based.
Rit., Ritardando - Gradually becoming slower
Tempo - The rate of speed in a musical work.
Time signature - The numbers placed at the beginning of a
Varying degrees of volume
composition to indicate the meter of the music. The upper number
indicates the beats in a measure; the lower number tells what kind
pp
Pianissimo - Very Soft
of a note will receive one beat.
p
Piano - Soft
Staff - The most frequently used staff has five horizontal lines,
mp
Mezzo Piano - Medium Soft
with four spaces, upon which the notes and other musical symbols
mf
Mezzo Forte - Medium Loud
are placed. (With violin in first position, the lines indicate fingers
f
Forte - Loud
1 or 3, the spaces indicate open strings or fingers 2 or 4)
ff
Fortissimo - Very Loud
Ledger lines - Short lines placed above and below the staff for
cresc.
Crescendo - Gradually becoming louder
pitches beyond the range of the staff.
decresc. Decrescendo - Gradually becoming softer
Fermata - Hold; pause.
dim.
Diminuendo - Gradually becoming softer
Rest - A symbol used to denote silence.
Messa di voce - Becoming louder then softer
(nicknamed “hairpins”)
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