a - for, at, in, etc.
a cappella - choral music without instrumental accompaniment.
a capriccio - in a capricious style.
accelerando - gradually getting quicker.
accent - emphasis placed on a tone or chord.
accidental - a sharp, fiat, or natural sign.
accompaniment - subordinate harmonic and/or rhythmic material supporting a principal melody.
accrescendo - getting louder.
adagio - very slow.
ad libitum - at the performer's liberty.
affabile - in a pleasing manner.
affettuoso - affectionate, with tender warmth.
affrettando - hurrying.
agitato - excited.
air (ayre) - a melodious composition used in some classic suites, which was designed to accompany dancing, but it was not one of the standard dance forms such as the Gavotte or the Minuet. a vocal or instrumental melody.
al fine - to the end.
al, alia, alle - to the - in the style of.
allargando - gradually slower and broader.
allegretto - slightly slower than allegro.
allegro - lively, rather quick.
allegro assai - very quick.
allegro giusto - quick, with exactness.
allegro modetaro - moderately quick.
allemande - the first of the dances in the classic suite, written in duple time and played at a moderate tempo.
Alto Clef - Used to score for instruments such as the viola. Middle C is located on the middle line.
al Tedesca - in the German style.
areabile - sweet, loveable.
areore - tenderness and affection.
ambitus - the range of a plainsong from its highest to its lowest tone.
amoroso - loving.
andante - rather slow, at a moderate pace.
andantino - generally a little quicker than andante.
andare - go on.
Anglaise - an English country dance, sometimes part of the suite, in quick duple time, always starting on a strong beat.
