MUSICAL SIGNS AND ABBREVIATIONS.

Signs denoting time or relative value of sound:

Each of these notes represents twice the duration of sound of that which comes next in order. The sign to the right of each note indicates a rest or silence equal to its sound duration.

In time, the figure above a line drawn thus across the stave denotes the length of the pause in bars.

Accel. Accelerando. Gradually increasing the speed.

Adg^o or Ad^o. Adagio. Slow; also name given to a slow movement or piece.

Ad lib. Ad libitum. Passages so marked may be rendered at the will of the performer.

And. Andante. Moderately slow: graceful; sometimes used as the name of a movement or separate piece.

Anim^o. Animato. Animated: with soul.

A tem. A tempo. In time.

Bar. A line drawn perpendicularly across the stave, separating the notes into measures of equal length; also the music comprised within two such lines.—Double Bar. The former of the two signs is used to mark the larger divisions of a piece or movement; in psalm tunes, hymns, chants, &c., to mark the end of a verse or sentence. The latter sign denotes the end of a composition.

Denoting common time; the former indicating four crotchets to the bar, the latter two minims to the bar.

Cal. Calando. Gradually slower, and with decreasing volume of tone.

Clef. The sign placed at the beginning of a stave, determining the absolute pitch of the notes that follow it.

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D.C. Da capo. From the beginning; indicating that the performer must return to the beginning of the movement, and conclude at the double bar marked Fine.

Dim. Diminuendo. Gradual decrease of tone.

(·) Dot. When added to a note or rest, lengthens it by one-half. When placed over or under a note, means that its duration should be cut short.

f. Forte. Loudly: strongly.

ff. Fortissimo. Very loud.

fff. Fortississimo. As loud as possible.

f.p. Forte-piano. Loud, then soft.

Leg. Legato. In a smooth and gliding manner.

Lo. Loco. Indicating to return to the proper pitch after having played an octave higher.

mf. or mff. Mezzo-forte. Moderately loud.

mp. Mezzo-piano. Moderately soft.

Manc. Mancando. Dying away, decreasing.

Marc. Marcato. In a marked manner, emphasised.

M.M. Maelzel's metronome.

M.M.

Ott., O^va, 8^va=Ottava. An octave—as 8^va alta=ottava alta, (to be played) an octave higher; 8^va bas. = ottava bassa, an octave lower.

p. Piano. Softly.

P.F. or pf. Piano-forte. Soft, then loud.

pp. Pianissimo. Very soft.

ppp. Pianississimo. As softly as possible.

Pizz. Pizzicato. A direction to violinists to twang the string with the finger instead of using the bow.

Quintuplet. A group of five notes played in the time of four.

4^tte Quartette.

5^tte Quintette.

Raddol. Raddolcendo. Gradually softer and sweeter.

Rall. Rallentando. Becoming gradually slower.

Repeat. When placed at the beginning and end of a passage or movement, indicates that the portion so marked is to be played over again.

Rit. Ritardando. Retarding, holding back the time.

Sem., Semp. Sempre. Always, throughout—as sempre legato, smooth throughout; sempre ritardando, continually slackening the time.

7^tte Septet.

6^tte Sextet, or Sestet.

Sos., Sos^t. Sostenuto. Sustained; prolonging the tone for the full duration of time indicated.

Spir. Spiritoso. In a spirited or lively manner.

Stave or Staff. The horizontal and parallel lines on which the notes are placed, used to indicate their relative position as regards pitch.

Trem. Tremolando. With trembling or wavering; a note or chord played with great rapidity so as to produce such an effect.

3^o Trio.

Triplet. A group of three notes performed in the time of two.

T.S. Tasto solo. One key alone: a direction to play a part in unison.