Most concert programs provide interesting reading and information regarding both the composer and the music to be played. But many people, who are not versed in the language of music, open a concert program and are often at a loss to understand some of the words, terminology and phrases they encounter.
The idea for this subject came from a good friend and former colleague, W. Richard Smithousen, a biologist. After going to a Danville Community Band concert he told me he had no idea what some of the words meant and was confused by the terminology. He asked me to clear up and explain some of the mysterious words and phrases in the program. I can appreciate his confusion and frustration. Many people don’t know some of the commonly used musical jargon found in almost all concert programs.The main part of a program is in English but Italian is the language usually used for musical directions in the vast majority of music compositions. So if one does not understand the Italian language, many musical terms are quite a mystery. Italian is the universal music language but this is not the case in 100 percent of music written throughout the world. The directions for playing, singing or conducting are usually in Italian. This may also be true in music written in other countries by composers who speak other languages.
Some of the words and phrases are categorized according to their function and meaning. Many words denote names of movements that make up the composition, others are directions for volume, tempo, and style of playing.
There are literally thousands of words that could be used to describe some aspects of musical expression. Space does not permit but a few of the most common words and expressions found in music literature. Some of the words and phrases used in music are:
Volume
Volume or dynamics, indicates loudness or softness
Pianissimo pp – very soft
Piano p – soft
Mezzo piano mp – medium soft
Mezzo forte mf – medium loud
Forte f – loud
Fortissimo ff – very loud
Tempo
Tempo or speed of a composition
Allegro – fast, happy, quick
Allegro con brio – played in a brilliant style
Allegro con fuoco – played with fire and extreme animation
Allegro con spirito – performed with spirit
Allegro ma non troppo – allegro but not too rapid
Allegretto – slightly slower than allegro
Andante – a moderate or walking tempo
Andantino – slightly faster than andante
Moderato – a moderate tempo
Vivace – quite fast, lively, quick
Presto – very fast
Presto assai – as fast as possible
Adagio – slow
Largo – very slow and broad
Lento – slow
Grave – very, very slow
Terms used to alter tempo markings:
Accelerando – becoming gradually faster
Stringendo – quickening the tempo
Ritardando – gradually slowing the tempo
Rallentando – slowing the tempo
Meno mosso – less movement
L’istesso tempo – the same rate of speed
Maestoso – majestically
Dolce – sweetly
Grandioso – grandly
Pesante – slowly, heavily
Con moto – with motion
Agitato – agitated
Program Makeup
The components of a concert program vary according to the ensemble, either band, orchestra or choral and what each ensemble deems important and appropriate to mention.
I’m proud to say that the programs of the Danville Community Band (DCB) are very complete in content and scope. When we take sample programs to national conventions they are called exemplary and are quickly sought after.
Our printed programs begin with greetings from the conductor and a list of dates for all upcoming concerts and events. Then the musical selections to be performed and a brief history of the founding of the band follows. Biographies of the conductors and featured guest artists (if performing) are next, then a list of the musicians name, profession and the instrument they play. Corporate and individual contributions of financial donations follow. Also included are
acknowledgments of individuals who help the band in many ways, including the Board of Directors of DCB. Photos of band members are featured throughout the written program.
Program Notes
This section is where you will find some words and phrases that you may not now. These are common words to describe something that is inherent in the music being performed.
Acappella – unaccompanied
Bel canto – beautiful singing, associated with Italian opera
Chorale – a hymn tune (or a choral group)
Coda – means tail, a section at the end of a piece
Concerto – a composition for one or more solo voices and orchestra or band
Consort – a small instrumental ensemble
Counterpoint – two or more melodic lines played together
da capo – go back to the beginning
da capo al fine – go back to the beginning and play to the end or fine
Diatonic – major and minor scales
Etude – French for study
Legato – play smoothly without separate attacks
Leitmotif – a recurring theme
Libretto – text of opera, oratorio or musical
Minuet – a country dance in triple time
Monophony – a single line of melody, no harmony
Ornaments – a little quick note, a trill, grace note or turn
Opus – a number assigned to the works of a composer
Overture – an introduction to a musical work
Polyphony – two or more independent lines combined
Sotto voce – Soft or low voice
Staccato – detached, each note short
Syncopation – accent on the weak part of the beat
Secco – dry or simple
Segue – without a break
Sonata – multi-movement composition for solo instrument
Sordino – mute
Subito – suddenly or immediately
Tacet – be quiet, do not play or sing
Tessitura – range of a part
Tutti – all
Timbre – tone quality or color
Unison – two or more playing the same note
Vibrato – a wobble or fluctuation of pitch
There you have it. A thumbnail sketch on how to read and interpret the words and phrases in a concert program.
Many thanks to the very fine members of DCB who produce our programs before each event. George March, DCB’s business manager, who does the leg work and writes the copy for each issue, Jim Ketsdever, of Sara Waters Design Group, who designs the graphics and does the layout and Steve Tom, of Printing by Coast Litho for printing our beautiful programs. These dedicated folks do a superior job, getting the word out to our audience and making us look good.
Hopefully, I have dismissed some of the mystery in understanding what is offered in a program.
Happy concert going.
Submit your questions and comments to banddirector01@comcast.net Visit our website at www.danvilleband.org for up-to-date information about the Danville Community Band.
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