Page 76 - Music

Chapter Musical terms and signs
Five

Introduction

Music composers use different terms and signs to give directives on how they
want their music to be performed. For example, they may direct the music
to be loud, soft, slow, fast, harsh or smooth. In this chapter, you will learn
several terms and signs used in creating and performing musical pieces.

The competencies developed will enable you to apply musical terms and
signs when composing music and interpret various terms and signs when
performing a piece of music.

Think

How choir conductors can direct singers and instrumentalists with just the
movement of their hands

Concept of musical terms and signs
Musical terms and signs are used by music composers to give direction to musicians
on how the composed music should be performed. They play an important role in
musical performances as they guide musicians to perform music to life as intended
by the composers. It is, therefore, important for every musician to know how
to interpret terms and signs used in music for effective performances. Musical
terms and signs are used to direct the dynamics, tempo and style or manner of a
performance. At this level, you will learn four categories of the musical terms and
signs that indicate tempo, dynamics, articulations and repeats.

Terms and signs indicating tempo
The term tempo comes from the Latin word tempus, which means time. It indicates
the speed of the music; that is, how fast or slow the music is to be played or sung.

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