Lento - Lyrics
Lacrimoso - (Italian) "tearful"; to be played mournfully or sorrowfully
Lai - (French) "song, lyric"; a lyrical type of poem set to music developed in 14th century France consisting of several stanzas, each differing in melody and rhyme
Laisser Vibrer - (French) "let vibrate"; notation instructing to let it vibrate after striking, normally refers to the cymbals; Right: Laisser vibre symbols
Lamellophone - any of a group of instruments whose sound is produced by vibrating strips of metal, wood, or other material
Lament - a deep expression of sorrow or grief; music intended to be played by bagpipes at Scottish clan funerals; dirge;
Lancers - a 19th century square-dance of 5 dances for 4 couples; quadrille
Lancio con - (Italian) "throw"; direction to play with vigor or energically
Largamente - (Italian) "broader"; play in a slow dignified manner; solemnly
Larghetto - (Italian) "broadly"; play in a slow manner, less slow than largo
Largo - (Italian) "broad"; to be played slowly
Last Post - the end of day British Army bugle call, also played at funerals
Lauda Spirituale - (Italian) "spiritual praise"; a medieval Italian sacred song; a monophonic form of religious medieval song likely born from Troubadours
Leader - the first violin part which also plays the solos in an orchestra; the director of an ensemble or chamber group
Leap - a melodic interval greater than a major 2nd, as opposed to a step
Lebhaft - (German) "lively"; to be played in a brisk or lively manner
Ledger - a short horizontal line written above or below the staff to accommodate notes above or below the staff; also leger line
Legato - (Italian, French) "tied, tie"; direction to play smoothly without separating notes indicated by curved line over or under notes; tie together; notation indicating a tie or slur of notes
Legend - a short composition which depicts a legendary character
Leggero - (Italian) "light"; to beperformed in a light and graceful manner
Legeramente - (Italian) "slightly"; play in a slight manner; gracefully light
Leggiadro - (Italian) "elegant"; to be performed gracefully; play elegantly
Legno col - (Italian) "with the wood"; direction to tap the strings with the wood side of the bow; instructs string players to use the wood of the bow
Leger Line - a short horizontal line written above or below the staff to accommodate notes above or below the staff; also ledger
Lehrstück - (German) "lesson play"; a theatrical work of moral teaching intent of the early 20th century, often political or social in nature
Leich - (German) a form of 12 stanza song based upon several strophes of the Trouv'res from the 1300s forward which, when adopted by the German Minnesingers in the 14th century, then spread into other countries; see also lai
Leise - (German) "quiet"; a medieval genre written in response to the vernacular vocal elements of the Latin Mass during the Middle Ages consisting of a single stanza; a precursor of Protestant church music originating in German provinces
Leitmotif - (German) "leading motive"; a short recurring musical phrase pertinent to the composition, associated with a particular person, place, or idea; the smallest form of composition utilizing a theme or main musical idea
Lento - (Latin) "slow"; short slow tempo piano works of dissonant harmony from the early 19th into the 20th century; an instruction to play slowly
Lentamente - (Latin) "slowly"; meant to be played a slow tempo
Lentissimo - (Latin) "very slowly"; meant to be played a very slow tempo
L.H. - abbreviation written above the staff indicating use of the left hand
Liberamente - (Italian) "freely"; to be played with a free tempo
Liber Usualis - (Latin) "book of common practice"; a compendium or book of commonly used Gregorian monophonic chants, using neumes, for the 11th century Roman Catholic but originating as far back as the 6th century Latin Mass
Libretto - (Italian) "little book"; the text of an opera or musical work containing words or lyrics printed for theater audience' to read
Licenza - (Italian) "licence"; an 18th century aria or finale in an opera which honors or pays tribute to royal dignitaries in attendance such as the queen
Lied - (German) "song"; a form of vernacular setting of poetry to classical music to make it more or less polyphonic originating as far back as the 12th century
Liederbuch - (German) "song book"; a collection of songs from medieval Germany
Liederkreis - (German) "song cycle"; refers to a Beethoven work from 1816 which came to be known as a recurring variation of the musical theme
Lieto - (Italian) "happy"; play happily or in a joyful manner
Lieto fine' - (Italian) "happy ending"; a happy ending passage to an opera
Ligature - a graphic notation of Gregorian plainchant or neumes in use from the 9th to 11th centuries instructing musicians to tie notes into a single syllable; Right: Ligature example
Light Music - a term describing music for light entertainment, often assumed to be of little or no emotional or intellectual value or significance
Lining Out - a practice of church recitals of vocal hymn lyrics along with the melody for the congregation to copy and follow
Lira da Braccio - (Italian) "arm lyre"; an early type of violin from the Renaissance
Liscio - (Italian) "smooth"; to be played smoothly in an even style; 19th century musical genre of northern Italy related to Viennese dances
Lithophone - (Greek) "stone"; any instrument constructed of rock, stone plaques, or blocks which resonate sounds when struck
Loco - (Italian) "place"; instruction for performers to return to the written part
Long - a note with twice the duration of a breve (whole-note) used in music of Medieval times and the Renaissance
Luftpause - (German) "air-break"; notation of pause made to allow for players to take a breath, written a a 'V' above the staff
Lullaby - a peaceful or calming song meant to lull people to sleep found in most folk music and also in orchestral compositions
Luminoso - (Italian) "lighted"; well lighted; shine forth; shining
Lunga - (Italian) "long"; notation made above notes instructing the player to hold the note longer than its normal duration; see fermata
Lusingando - (Italian) "coaxing"; to be played in a flattering or coaxing manner
Lustig - (German) "merry"; play in a cheerful manner; play happily
Lyric - (Greek) "a song played on a lyre"; a subjective form of poetry; the classification of vocal music in European Classical music; a melodic verse sung
Lyricist - a writer of words for songs; one who collaborates with musical composers or songwriters to write lyrics for their songs; see also songwriter
Lyrics - the words of a song consisting of verses and choruses; see also libretto
