Deciphering the Adagio for Strings Score (Extended Analysis Project Step 3)

There are many musical terms describing the tempos, stylistic instructions, titles and forms, intended techniques, and articulations present within the score. It is important to identify what these markings mean to understand the deeper meaning of the music.

Markings:

• Adagio for Strings - adagio is an indication to play slowly and calmly; at ease. Adagio is anywhere from 66 to 76 beats per minute, falling between lento and andante.
• Op. 11 - an opus is a collection of works by a specific composer, often organized by year. 
• Molto adagio - very slowly
• Espr. cantando - expressive singing
• < - crescendo, meaning gradually getting louder
• > - decrescendo, meaning gradually getting softer 
• ' - classified as a lift, instructing the musician to replace the bow at the frog
• unis. - unison, meaning two or more parts play the same pitch or octave intervals
• div. - divisi, directing the musicians on one part to split into top and bottom
• piu forte, sempre cantando - louder, always singing
• non div. - not divided
• sul G - on the G String
• cresc. sempre - crescendo always
• sord. ad lib. - sordino ad libitum, meaning to mute at one's pleasure
• senza sord. - without the mute
• piu - more
• molto espr. - very expressive
• morendo - dying away

The majority of these definitions were found on:

http://www.musictheory.org.uk/res-musical-terms/italian-musical-terms.php