tacet - be silent.
tanto - so much, as much.
tarantella - a wild Italian dance in 3/8 or 6/8 time, which was supposed to cure the poisonous bite of the spider called the tarantula. It frequently alternated modes, and increased in frenzy towards the end.
tardamente - slowly.
Tedesca - German.
tema - theme or subject.
tempo - generally, the speed of music; the rate of beats as indicated by such terms as allegro, presto, adagio, lento, and andante.
tempo giusto - in strict time.
tempo ordinario - in moderate time.
tempo primo - the original time.
tempo rubato - robbed or irregular time.
teneramente - tenderly.
tenuto - sustained.
ternary - a form in three sections (ABA).
tessitura - the average range of a vocal part.
tetrachord - a four-tone section of a scale.
texture - the disposition of the melodic element in music. (See monophonic, polyphonic, homophonic); also means sonority.
theme - the melodic idea on which a composition is based. A theme may also include rhythmic, harmonic, and other factors.
thorough bass - see basso continuo, figured bass.
tie - a curved line connecting two consecutive notes on the same line or space of the staff; indicates the note to be held over rather than repeated.
timbre - tone color or tone quality.
time signature - numerals at the beginning of a composition, the upper figure of which indicates the number of beats in the measure, the lower of which indicates the kind of note which gets one beat.
timoroso - with hesitation.
toccata - (Latin meaning "touch") - a virtuoso piece composed to display the technical skill of the player, usually with full chords, arpeggios and running passages, in a free fantasy style.
toccatina - a small short toccata - sometimes used as an opening to a Suite.
tonality - the sense of gravitation around a tonal center or key.
tonic - the first note of a diatonic scale, the note from which a key gets its name, and the chord built on that note.
tosto - swift, rapid.
tranquillo - calmness, quietness.
transcription - arranging a composition for a different medium.
trascinando - dragging the time.
tre - three.
treble - a relatively high-register part, indicated by the G clef or treble clef.
tre corde - three strings, an indication to stop using the soft pedal.
tremolo - rapid reiteration of a sing-note or rapid alternation between two notes.
triad - a three-note chord, consisting of two thirds.
trionfale - triumphal.
triple meter - three beats to the measure.
triple stopping - playing on three strings of a bowed string instrument, simultaneously or in rapid succession.
tristezza - sadness, heaviness.
trope - an interpolated section of melody and text in plain song.
troppo - too much; non troppo - not too much.
tune - A melody.
tutti - A passage played by the entire orchestra.
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