in Music, an Italian word, denoting Allein, that the part is to be played in a sprightly, brisk, lively, and gay manner.

Piu Allegro signifies, that the part it is joined to should be sung or played quicker; as

Poco piu Allegro intimates, that the part to which it refers ought to be played or sung only a little more briskly than allegro alone requires.

Allein, Joseph, the son of Tobias Allein, was born in the Devizes, in Wiltshire, in 1633, and educated at Oxford. In 1655, he became afflant to Mr Newton, in Taunton Magdalen, in Somersetshire; but was deprived for nonconformity. He died in 1668, aged 35. He was a man of great learning, and greater charity; preserving, though a nonconformist, and a severe sufferer on that account, great respect for the church, and loyalty to his sovereign. He wrote several books of piety, which are highly esteemed; but his Alarm to unconverted sinners is more famous than the rest. There have been many editions of this little pious work, the sale of which has been very great; of the edition 1672, there were 20,000 sold; of that of 1675, with this title, A sure guide to heaven, 50,000. There was also a large impression of it with its first title, in 1720.

Allein, Richard, an English nonconformist divine, a native of Ditchet, in Somersetshire, was born in the year 1611. His father was rector of Ditchet, and conducted the education of his son, until he was prepared for the university. There he soon obtained the degree of master of arts, and after he entered into holy orders, first as an afflant to his father, and afterwards as rector of Batcomb, in Somersetshire, he discharged the duties of a clergyman with great industry and singular fidelity. From his education, he conceived an early predilection for the sentiments of the Puritans, and consequently, in the contest between Charles I. and the parliament, he firmly adhered to the latter. Having adopted these sentiments, he sometimes received a little disturbance from the king's forces, but he never carried his opposition to any undue length. He, along with several others, signed a paper, entitled "The Testimony of the Ministers of Somersetshire to the truth of Christ," in which their declared principles and becoming candour were amply displayed. Along with his father, he was employed by the commissioners appointed by parliament for ejecting scandalous ministers; a commission which was executed with rigour, and originated in intolerance.

Upon the Restoration he manifested a disposition to loyalty, but unable with a good conscience to unite in the act of conformity, he resigned his living after enjoying it for 20 years, and ranked with the meritorious band of sufferers, to the number of 2000, commonly denominated the ejected ministers. In the house of Mr More who had been a member of the parliament, he exercised the duties of his ministerial office under the penalties of that act, and was consequently reprimanded by the magistrates and imprisoned; but his piety and exemplary conduct, procured him a mitigation of punishment. But no dangers could deter him from duty; for although constrained to remove from that place in consequence of the "five-mile act," he continued in the discharge of his ministerial office at Frome Selwood. Here he remained until he terminated his labours by death, in 1681.

Piety, boldness, activity, and candour, shone in the character of Richard Allein. He was admired as a pathetic and practical preacher, and justly respected for the diligence with which he discharged the public and private duties of his profession. Mr Jenkins, the vicar of the parish where he resided, preached his funeral sermon, and bore an honourable testimony to his activity, moderation, and piety. Richard Allein, similar to his nonconformist brethren, closely confined his studies and publications to subjects of religion. His works are strongly marked with the peculiar features of the religious character then prevalent among the nonconformists. They have been frequently reprinted, and very much perused. His most celebrated work is "Vindicatio Pietatis, or a Vindication of Godliness in its greatest Strictness and Spirituality, with directions for a godly life;" this book was published in 1665, without a printer's name; and being unlicensed, the copies of it were seized and sent to the king's kitchen for wafer paper. The other productions of his pen are, "Heaven opened, or a brief and plain discovery of the riches of God's Covenant of Grace;" printed in 1665. "The World Conquered;" published in 8vo, in 1674. "Godly Fear;" printed in 8vo, in 1674. "A Rebuke to Backsliders, and a Spur for Loiterers;" printed in 8vo in 1677. "A Companion for Prayer;" in 12mo, 1680. "A brief character of Mr Joseph Allein;" and "Instructions about heart-work, what is to be done on God's part and ours for the cure and keeping of the heart;" a posthumous piece published in 8vo, by Dr Annelley in the year 1681. (Gen. Biog.)

Alleluia, or Hallelujah, a word signifying, praise the Lord, to be met with either at the beginning or end of some psalms: such as psalm cxlv. and those that follow to the end. Alleluia was sung upon solemn days of rejoicing, Tobit xiii. 12. St John in the Revelation (xix. 1, 3, 4, 6.) says, that he heard a great voice of much people in heaven, who said, Alleluiah; and the four and twenty elders, and the four beasts, fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Alleluiah." This hymn of joy and praises was transferred from the synagogue to the church. St Jerome tells us, that at the funeral of Fabiola several psalms were sung with loud alleluias; and that the monks of Palestine were awakened at their midnight watchings, with the ringing of alleluias. So much energy has been observed in this term, that the ancient church thought proper to preserve it, without translating it either into Greek or Latin, for fear of impairing the genius and softness of it. The fourth council of Toledo has prohibited the use of it in times of Lent, or other days of fasting, and in the ceremonies of mourning: and, according to the present practice of the Roman church, this word is never repeated in Lent, nor in the obsequies of the dead; notwithstanding which, it is used in the mass for the dead, according to the Moarabic ritual, at the introit, when they sing, Tu es portio mea, Domine, Alleluia, in terra viventium, Alleluia, Alleluia. The ringing alleluia was oftentimes an invitational or call to each other to praise the Lord.

Allemaengel, a small Moravian settlement on Swetara river, in Pennsylvania.