Musical Terms for Moods

Musical Term
Definition
Meaning
Example
Type
Affection, tenderness

Affettuoso is an Italian adjective which means affection and tenderness. It is often used to indicate that the music should be played softly and affectingly.

Musical Terms for Moods
Aitated, hurried, restless

Agitato is an Italian adjective which means aitated, restless, and hurried. It is often used to indicate that the music should be conveyed with an agitated and uneasy feeling.

Musical Terms for Moods
Animated, lively, full of energy

Animato is an Italian adjective which means animated, lively, and full of energy. It is often used to indicate that the music should be played in a lively and energetic manner.

Musical Terms for Moods
Passionate

Appassionato is an Italian adjective which means passionate. It is often used to indicate that the music should be played with passion and strong emotion.

Musical Terms for Moods
Brilliant

Brillante is an Italian adjective which means brilliant. It is often used to indicate that the music should be played with a lively tempo and a bright tone color, striving to bring out a brilliant and shining effect.

Musical Terms for Moods
Lively, spirited

Brioso is an Italian adjective which means lively and spirited. It is often used to indicate that the music should be played with a lot of energy and vitality.

Musical Terms for Moods
Decisive, brusquely

Bruscamente is an Italian adjective which means decisive and brusquely. It is often used to indicate that the music should be played with an abrupt transition, or even with a rough style.

Musical Terms for Moods
Comic, humorous

Buffo is an Italian adjective which means comic and humorous. It is often used to indicate that the music should be played with a comic and humorous style.

Musical Terms for Moods
Singing, flowing, smooth and gentle

Cantabile is an Italian adjective which means singing, flowing, smooth and gentle. It is often used to indicate that the music should be played with a smooth singing style.

Musical Terms for Moods
Fast, quick, rapid

Celere is an Italian adjective which means fast, quick, and rapid. It is often used to indicate that the music should be played rapidly.

Musical Terms for Moods
Colossal, extremely large

Colossale is an Italian adjective which means colossal and extremely large. It is often used to indicate that the music should be played with a strong and expressive feeling.

Musical Terms for Moods
Comfortable, convenient

Comodo is an Italian adjective which means comfortable and convenient. It is often used to indicate that the music should be played with a relaxed and comfortable style.

Musical Terms for Moods
Lovingly, tenderly

Con amore is an Italian adjective which means lovingly and tenderly. It is often used to indicate that the music should be conveyed with a loving and affectionate expression, and the music itself should be soft and full of love.

Musical Terms for Moods
Enthusiastically, full of vitality

Con brio is an Italian adjective which means enthusiastically and full of vitality. It is often used to indicate that the music should be played with energy and passion.

Musical Terms for Moods
Strong, forceful

Con forza is an Italian adjective which means strong and forceful. It is often used to indicate that the music should be played with strength and power.

Musical Terms for Moods
Passionately, fierily

Con fuoco is an Italian adjective which means passionately and fierily. It is often used to indicate that the music should be played with energy and intense passion.

Musical Terms for Moods
Graceful, elegant

Con grazia is an Italian adjective which means graceful and elegant. It is often used to indicate that the music should be played with a graceful and elegant expression.

Musical Terms for Moods
Bisk, lively

Con moto is an Italian adjective which means brisk and lively. It is often used to indicate that the music should be played with an animated and lively expression.

Musical Terms for Moods
Spirited, vivacious

Con spirito is an Italian adjective which means spirited and vivacious. It is often used to indicate that the music should be played with a spirited and vivacious expression.

Musical Terms for Moods
Sweetly, softly

Dolce is an Italian adjective which means sweetly and softly. It is often used to indicate that the music should be conveyed with a sweet and soft tone color, striving to create a pleasant feeling and a gentle atmosphere.

Musical Terms for Moods
Sorrowful, painful

Doloroso is an Italian adjective which means sorrowful and painful. It is often used to indicate that the music should be played with a sorrowful feeling, and the music itself should be full of pain and sadness.

Musical Terms for Moods
Dramatic

Drammatico is an Italian adjective which means dramatic. It is often used to indicate that the music should be played in a dramatic manner.

Musical Terms for Moods
Energetic

Energico is an Italian adjective which means energetic and vigorous. It is often used to indicate that the music should be played with an energetic and vigorous expression.

Musical Terms for Moods
Expressive

Espressivo is an Italian adjective which means expressive. It is often used to indicate that the music should be played in an expressive manner.

Musical Terms for Moods
Ferocious, fierce

Feroce is an Italian adjective which means ferocious and fierce. It is often used to indicate that the music should be played with a ferocious and fierce style.

Musical Terms for Moods
Festive, joyful

Festoso is an Italian adjective which means festive and joyful. It is often used to indicate that the music should be played with a festive and joyful style.

Musical Terms for Moods
Furious, violent

Furioso is an Italian adjective which means furious and violent. It is often used to indicate that the music should be played with a style of anger or fury.

Musical Terms for Moods
Joyful, playful

Giocoso is an Italian adjective which means joyful and playful. It is often used to indicate that the music should be played with a playful and joyful expression.

Musical Terms for Moods
Grandly, majestically

Grandioso is an Italian adjective which means grandly and majestically. It is often used to indicate that the music should be conveyed with a grand and majestic effect.

Musical Terms for Moods
Graceful

Grazioso is an Italian adjective which means graceful. It is often used to indicate that the music should be played with a sense of grace.

Musical Terms for Moods
Sad, tearful

Lacrimoso is an Italian adjective which means sad and tearful. It is often used to indicate that the music should be played with a mood of sadness and grief.

Musical Terms for Moods
Light, delicate

Leggiero is an Italian adjective which means light and delicate. It is often used to indicate that the music should be played in a light and delicate manner.

Musical Terms for Moods
Majestic, stately

Maestoso is an Italian adjective which means majestic and stately. It is often used to indicate that the music should be conveyed with a majestic and stately effect.

Musical Terms for Moods
Emphasized, accentuated

Marcato is an Italian adjective which means emphasized and accentuated. It is often used to indicate that the musical contour should be accentuated and emphasized as much as possible.

Musical Terms for Moods
Mysterious

Misterioso is an Italian adjective which means mysterious. It is often used to indicate that the music should be conveyed with a feeling of mystery.

Musical Terms for Moods
Ponderous

Pesante is an Italian adjective which means ponderous. It is often used to indicate that the music should be played with a heavy and ponderous feeling.

Musical Terms for Moods
Resolute, determined

Risoluto is an Italian adjective which means resolute and determined. It is often used to indicate that the music should by played a feeling of resolve and determination.

Musical Terms for Moods
Playful, sportive

Scherzando is an Italian adjective which means playful and sportive. It is often used to indicate that the music should be played in a light-hearted and humorous manner.

Musical Terms for Moods
Simple, unadorned

Semplicemente is an Italian adjective which means simple and unadorned. It is often used to indicate that the music should be conveyed with a simple and unadorned atmosphere.

Musical Terms for Moods
Enthusiastic

Slancio is an Italian adjective which means enthusiastic. It is often used to indicate that the music should be expressed with a strong emotion.

Musical Terms for Moods
Solitary, lonely

Solitario is an Italian adjective which means solitary and lonely. It is often used to indicate that the music should be conveyed with a lonely or solitary atmosphere.

Musical Terms for Moods
Resonant, echoing, resounding

Sonore is a French adjective which means resonant, echoing, and resounding. It is often used to indicate that the music should be played in a loud and resonant manner.

Musical Terms for Moods
Sustained, steady

Sostenuto is an Italian adjective which means sustained and steady. It is often used to indicate that the musical passages should be played in a sustained and steady manner.

Musical Terms for Moods
Soft voice

Sotto voce is an Italian adjective which means soft voice. It is often used to indicate that the music should be played in a soft and subdued manner.

Musical Terms for Moods
Quiet, calm

Tranquillo is an Italian adjective which means quiet and calm. It is often used to indicate that the music should be conveyed with a sense of quiet and calm.

Musical Terms for Moods
Flying, light, quick

Volante is an Italian adjective which means flying, light, and quick. It is often used to indicate that the music should be conveyed with a flying, light, and fast-moving feeling.

Musical Terms for Moods