A comprehensive analysis of musical notation, according to Friends

Turns out Joey, Monica, Ross et al really knew their music theory (kind of). Could we BE any geekier?

Rallentando

(Lit. 'slowing down'). A gradual decrease in speed similar to a that of a ritardando.

Staccato

(Lit. 'detached'). Note is to be played shorter than notated, usually half the value. The rest of the metric value is then silent.

Strascinando

Performance marking indicating a passage should be played in a heavily slurred, unarticulated manner.

Subito

Suddenly. For example 'subito forte' - suddenly loud.

Accelerato

Getting faster - suddenly increasing the tempo.

Spiccato

Distinct, separated. A way of playing the violin and other bowed instruments by bouncing the bow on the string, giving a characteristic staccato effect.

Three-part fugue, final entry

In contrapuntal music. The final part joins the texture, imitating the previous two.



Marcato

(Lit. 'marked'). Played somewhat louder or more forcefully than a note with a regular accent mark.

Scherzo

A musical joke. A light, humorous or playful musical form, originally and usually in fast triple metre, often replacing the minuet in the later Classical period and Romantic period.

Portato

(Italian: 'to carry'). Denotes a smooth, pulsing articulation and is often notated by adding dots under slur markings.