I…
i Index finger of the right hand. See p,i,m,a in Left & Right Hand Fingerings
I (Italian) the
I, II, III, IV, V, VI…… A single finger holding multiple strings on a stringed instrument at the same time. Symbol used in standard notation for guitar. Roman numeral indicates which fret. Example: B7 (C7, CVII, VII) See Barre
Ia…
Iambic a poetic and musical foot consisting of two syllables, the first short, the second long
Ic…
Ichigenkin smallest of the Japanese kotos, it has one string stretched over a slender plank of wood acting as a soundboard
Ictus the accent resulting from the transients produced at the instant of plucking a string
Id…
Idée fixe (French) a recurring theme, with or without variations, that appears throughout a composition
Idem a note ornament see Idem in Note Ornamentation
Idyll a musical composition of peaceful pastoral character
Ii…
Il (Italian) the
Il faut (French) there is needed, there are needed
Illustrative music music that evokes a idea, mood or experience
Il pin (Italian) the most
Im…
Im Bedarfsfalle (German) in case of need
Im Falle (German) in case
Imbongi Zulu musician storytellers
Imbuya An alternative wood for the back and sides of a classical guitar. see Wood Choices for Back & Sides see Alternative Wood Choices for Back & Sides see Anatomy of a Classical Guitar
Imitando (Italian) imitating
Imitation the repetition of a phrase, usually at a different pitch
Imitative the repetition of a phrase, usually at a different pitch
Immer (German) always, ever, still
Impair (French) odd
Impaziente (Italian) impatient, hurried
Impazientemente (Italian) impatiently, hurriedly
Imperfect Cadence Half Cadence. A chord progression where the dominant chord is the final chord of the cadence and is preceded by the tonic chord in second inversion. This pattern produces two chords with the same bass note. In the tonality of C major, a half cadence would be the tonic chord in second inversion C major chord (G C E) moving to the dominant G major chord (G B D). see Musical Cadences
Imperioso (Italian) imperious, pompous
Impeto (Italian) impetus, impetuosity
Impétueux (French) impetuous
Impetuosità (Italian) impetuosity
Impetuosamente (Italian) impetuously
Impetuoso (Italian) impetuous
Imponente (Italian) imposing in style, haughtily
Imponierend (German) imposing in style, haughtily
Imponenza (Italian) an imposing style, haughty
Impressionism gives an impression of an experience
Impromptu instrumental piece giving the impression of having been improvised
Improvisation compose or perform
In…
In alt high
In altissimo highest
Incalcando (Italian) getting louder and faster
Incalzando (Italian) hastening, pressing forward
Incidental music music composed for the production of a predominantly spoken play
Incipit the first line, or first few works, of a work, often used to identify it
Inciso (Italian) incisive
Incominciando (Italian) commencing
Inconsolato (Italian) in a mournful style
Indebolendo (Italian) becoming weaker
Indeciso (Italian) capricious, undecided
Indeterminacy where the composer leaves sections or elements in a performance to the discretion of the performer
Indicato (Italian) prominent
Infra (Italian) below
Infinite canon a round, a canon which can go on forever
Inflection any change or modification of pitch or note
Infra (Italian) below
Infrasonic generating or using waves or vibrations with frequencies below that of audible sound
Inglese (Italian) English
In modo di (Italian) in the style or manner of
Inharmonic containing frequencies that are not whole-number multiples of the fundamental
Innig (German) heartfelt, intimate
Inno (Italian) Hymn
Innocenza (Italian) innocence
Inquiet (French) restless
Inquieto (Italian) restless
Insensible imperceptible
Insieme (Italian) ensemble, together
Inständig (German) urgent
Instante (Italian) urgent
Instanteniente (Italian) urgently
Instrumental describes music written for instruments but not for the voice
Instrumentation the disposition of instruments in a musical work, which instruments plays what lines in the score
Instruments devices used to create music
Interlude a short piece played between two larger ones
Intermède (French) a smaller piece placed between others
Intermedio (Italian) short, musical, dramatic items performed between acts of a theatrical performance
Intermedium a smaller piece placed between others
Intermezzo (Italian) a smaller piece placed between others
Interpolation the lengthening of the repetition of a phrase by the insertion of material not heard in the original phrase
Interpretation how a performer will present the material to the listeners.
Interrupted Cadence Deceptive Cadence. A chord progression where the dominant chord is followed by a chord other than the tonic chord- In the tonality of C major, a deceptive cadence could be the dominant G major chord (G B D) moving to the subdominant A minor chord (A C E). see Musical Cadences
Interval the distance between two pitches
Intime (French) intimate
Intimo (Italian) intimate
Intonation the degree to which the pitch of a note heard is what is correct but not to the degree that the note heard is the wrong note
Intoning chanting on a single note
Intrada (Italian) entrée
Intrepidamente (Italian) boldly
Intrepidezza (Italian) boldness
Intrepido (Italian) bold
Intro opening bars of a piece of music played before the main theme
Introduction the opening part of a piece of music
Introduzione (Italian) introduction
Inversion where the notes in a chord or triad do not follow their standard order
Invertible counterpoint counterpoint in which two or more voices can be interchanged
Ir…
Irato (Italian) angrily
Ironicamente (Italian) ironically
Ironico (Italian) ironic
Irresulto (Italian) undecided in style
Is…
Islancio (Italian) impetuosity
Isomelos in which a figure is repeated using the same notes but employing a different rhythm
Isometric where the rhythm in each part exactly matches that of others
Isorhythm repeated rhythmic pattern set against a pattern of notes or pitches
Istesso (Italian) same
Istesso tempo (Italian) the same speed
It…
Italian overture a work for orchestra
Italian sixth chord an augmented sixth chord, which contains only three tones
Iw…
Iworo leg rattles worn by dancers