Italian words in English

Descriptive of vocal music lacking instrumental accompaniment: The newlyweds had an a cappella group sing at the reception following their church wedding.

1. Referring to how choral or vocal music is performed without instrumental accompaniment: At the school music performance, the students sang a cappella.
2. Etymology: from Italian, literally, according to (the style of the) chapel.

A vocal production or performance with no instrumental accompaniment: The a cappella consisting of male and female singers, performed weekly in the local church.

1. In music, an indication of tempo that is to be played slowly, at ease, and leisurely: Adgio was the word at the beginning of the second movement which indicated that it should be played slowly.
2. A slow ballet dance in which the female partner is supported or lifted while she holds various poses.: An adagio is a male-female duet dance that shows challenging balance, lifts, and spins.
3. Etymology: Late 17th century from Italian, "at ease".

"Slowly, leisurely" from Italian ad agio, from ad, "to, at" + agio, "leisure"; which came from Vulgar (Common) Latin adjacens, adjacere, "to lie at, to lie near".

1. Referring to how something takes place or is located outdoors: The family ate alfresco in the back yard in the evening.
2. Etymology: Italian, "in the fresh (air)".

Pertaining to something that is outside in the open air: Ivy and Christa went to an alfresco restaurant which had outdoor dining.

1. A low female singing voice or a contralto: Jane sang alto in the choir, but not soprano like her girl-friend Alice.
2. Etymology: "a man with an alto voice", from Italian alto (canto), from Latin altus, "high". Originally a "high" man's voice, now it is more commonly applied to the lower range of women's voices.

Descriptive of how music is to be played slowly: The rehearsal for the concert included practicing pieces that had to be played andante.

A reference to a section or part of a piece of music to be played slowly: Parts of the concert had andante movements.

A musical composition or a part of a musical composition which is played somewhat slowly: The conductor indicated that the orchestra was to play andante, and there were several times when the andantes had to be repeated.

A song in an opera which is sung by one person: A musical may have a soloist singing an aria, and there may be several arias being presented and each one is sung by a soloist.

1. A thistle-like plant with large prickly leaves and its immature flowering head: The flower bud, also called an artichoke of the plant artichoke is large with parts that can be eaten as a vegetable after cooking. 2. Etymology: from articiocco, Northern Italian variant of Italian arcicioffo, from Old Spanish alcarchofa, which came from Arabic al-hursufa, "artichoke". The Northern Italian variation probably is from the influence of ciocco, "stump". Folk etymology has twisted the word in English; the ending is probably influenced by choke, and early forms of the word in English include archecokk, hortichock, artychough, and hartichoake.

In music, a member of the woodwind family with a mouth piece with a double reed and played in the tenor and bass ranges: In the musical tale of "Peter and the Wolf", the grandfather is represented by the bassoon.

A musical composition sung and accompanied by a chamber orchestra: Cantatas are typical of 17th and 18th century Italian music and have normally more than one movement. ,

A musical composition for one or more soloists and orchestra: Lynn was invited to play in a concerto for two violins and chamber orchestra.

Concerto means literally, "an agreement" or "a union".