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Topic: music terms (Read 5685 times) previous topic - next topic

music terms

I would like to know the meaning of smorzando, sostenuto, calando, sletando, ben marcato, Col. Ped., and sotto voce. (I'll think of a few more later.)I also want to know how to pronounce the dynamics ppp and fff.
Can anyone help?
Thanks.

Re: music terms

Reply #2 –
The site referred to is excellent. The only comment I would add, being a singer, is that "sotto voce" is usually found in vocal music as an instruction to singers. It is a direction to sing in a sort of voiced whisper.

fff is pronounced (for-tees-ees-ee-moh.
ppp is pronounced (pee-ahn-ees-ees-ee-moh).

Under normal rehearsal circumstances you rarely ever here a director say anything except "triple-f", or "triple-p", or something to that effect.

Peter P.

Re: music terms

Reply #3 –
Sotto voce also appears in piano music when the melody is understated and subtle. :)

Brian

Re: music terms

Reply #4 –
Sotto voce crops up all over the place - even in tuba music!  We tuba players can be subtle and understated as well - but we prefer not to be  :)

Stephen