Musical Terms

Below are definitions for the musical terms used in the play. The terms are followed by the page number where they can be found in the script. Please contact me if you have questions that are not answered here.

Adagio Movement (5)—Slow Section. Adagio means slow; it is slower than Andante but faster than Largo. A Movement is a self-contained part of a composition. Symphonies are often divided into movements. Etiquette note: at a concert, one should not applaud at the end of a movement but rather save your applause until the end of the composition, which may have several movements.

Clavichord (6)—a musical instrument much like a piano, but smaller. One distinctive feature of the sound of the clavichord is that this instrument is often "double-strung," in other words, there are two strings struck for each note. Below is a photo of a contemporary Clavichord and a link to some of Mozart's music played on a clavichord.

German Words and Phrases

Here is a list of the German words and phrases that you will find in the play. The page number where they appear in the script is listed after each word.

Click on the link for pronunciations for the most basic phrases in German. The words followed by an asterisk(*), below are included on this page. Click on a word to hear it pronounced by a very upbeat German guy.

auf Wiedersehen* (5, 16, 38)—the most formal way of saying Goodbye.

Ja* (6, 9)—Yes

Liebchen (6, 18)—Sweetheart or Dear. Mein Liebchen: My dear

Kappelmeister (6)—Literally Chapel-Master, or Choir-Master. The person in charge of music and/or the leader of an orchestra or choir.

Herr (13, 17, 20)—Mister, a term of address for a man or young man.

Wunderkind (16)—wonderkid

guten Morgen* (16)—Good Morning

Wunderbar (17, 18)—Wonderful!

Schatzi (17, 19)—Little Treasure, Darling

Fraulein (18)—Miss, a term of address for an unmarried young woman.

Danke* (19)—Thank you