{"id":235,"date":"2023-12-19T02:09:01","date_gmt":"2023-12-19T02:09:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.mightywords.co\/?p=235"},"modified":"2024-01-30T21:43:38","modified_gmt":"2024-01-30T21:43:38","slug":"directions-in-music","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.mightywords.co\/?p=235","title":{"rendered":"Directions in Music"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Around the world, different people have developed their own ways to create music unique to their culture. As a result, there are plenty of words to define the world of music. Today, I&#8217;m going to delve into some words for directions in music and the Latin and Italian root words they are derived from.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.merriam-webster.com\/dictionary\/forte\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.merriam-webster.com\/dictionary\/forte\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">forte<\/a> (<a href=\"https:\/\/spellableaudio.s3.amazonaws.com\/0492599225_1.mp3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">audio<\/a>)\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Forte is a musical direction that indicates you should play loudly or powerfully.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It comes from the Latin word &#8216;fortis&#8217; meaning strong.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The opposite of forte is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.merriam-webster.com\/dictionary\/piano\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">piano<\/a> (<a href=\"https:\/\/spellableaudio.s3.amazonaws.com\/0355068464_2.mp3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">audio<\/a>), which means to play softly.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Forte can also mean someone&#8217;s strong point, or the area in which they excel.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.merriam-webster.com\/dictionary\/crescendo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">crescendo<\/a> (<a href=\"https:\/\/spellableaudio.s3.amazonaws.com\/0266406708_1.mp3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">audio<\/a>)\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Crescendo is a musical direction that indicates you should gradually increase the volume.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It comes from Latin &#8216;crescere&#8217; meaning to grow&#8211;the same root the word <a href=\"https:\/\/www.merriam-webster.com\/dictionary\/crescent\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">crescent<\/a> (<a href=\"https:\/\/spellableaudio.s3.amazonaws.com\/1788790311_1.mp3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">audio<\/a>) comes from!<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The word crescendo can also be used to describe a gradual increase in anything.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>One famous composer who loved using dramatic crescendos was <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Gioachino_Rossini\">Giaochino Rossini<\/a>! He wrote 39 works for opera before he turned 37. His most famous work is Guillaume Tell, a 3 hour operatic work that you can find <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=cvvnsgZQr14.\">on YouTube<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.merriam-webster.com\/dictionary\/diminuendo\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.merriam-webster.com\/dictionary\/diminuendo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">diminuendo<\/a> (<a href=\"https:\/\/spellableaudio.s3.amazonaws.com\/0863225455_2.mp3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">audio<\/a>)\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Diminuendo is a musical direction that tells you to gradually decrease in volume.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It comes from Latin &#8216;de-&#8216; meaning completely and Latin &#8216;minuere&#8217; meaning to make small. The word <a href=\"https:\/\/www.merriam-webster.com\/dictionary\/diminish\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">diminish<\/a> (<a href=\"https:\/\/spellableaudio.s3.amazonaws.com\/0215687143_1.mp3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">audio<\/a>) shares both roots!<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A diminuendo is the opposite of a crescendo, and is sometimes called a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.merriam-webster.com\/dictionary\/decrescendo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">decrescendo<\/a> (<a href=\"https:\/\/spellableaudio.s3.amazonaws.com\/0639372297_2.mp3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">audio<\/a>).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The symbol for a diminuendo is sometimes called a hairpin because it supposedly resembles one. It looks like this: &#8216;&gt;&#8217;.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.merriam-webster.com\/dictionary\/vivace\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">vivace<\/a> (<a href=\"https:\/\/spellableaudio.s3.amazonaws.com\/0176574721_2.mp3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">audio<\/a>)\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Vivace tells a musician to to play in a spirited or lively manner.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It comes from Latin &#8216;vivere&#8217; meaning to live, a root that is also found in the words <a href=\"https:\/\/www.merriam-webster.com\/dictionary\/vivid\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">vivid<\/a> (<a href=\"https:\/\/spellableaudio.s3.amazonaws.com\/0491933126_1.mp3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">audio<\/a>) and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.merriam-webster.com\/dictionary\/survive\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">survive<\/a> (<a href=\"https:\/\/spellableaudio.s3.amazonaws.com\/1796072716_2.mp3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">audio<\/a>).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Vivace is not only a direction for how to play the music, but also a direction for tempo! As a tempo direction, it means to play at a brisk and lively pace.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.merriam-webster.com\/dictionary\/sostenuto\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.merriam-webster.com\/dictionary\/sostenuto\">so<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.merriam-webster.com\/dictionary\/sostenuto\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.merriam-webster.com\/dictionary\/sostenuto\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">stenu<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.merriam-webster.com\/dictionary\/sostenuto\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.merriam-webster.com\/dictionary\/sostenuto\">to<\/a> (<a href=\"https:\/\/spellableaudio.s3.amazonaws.com\/1360221634_2.mp3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">audio<\/a>)\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Sostenuto means to hold a note longer than intended.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It comes from Italian &#8216;sostenere&#8217; meaning to sustain, which comes from Latin &#8216;sub-&#8216; meaning under and &#8216;tenere&#8217; meaning to hold.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The pedal on the piano that allows you to extend certain notes is called the sostenuto pedal and is the middle pedal of the piano.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Boisselot brothers in Marseille, France invented the sostenuto pedal around 1843. It was patented in the US by the famous piano company, <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Steinway_%26_Sons\">Steinway and Sons<\/a>. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.merriam-webster.com\/dictionary\/dolce\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">dolce<\/a> (<a href=\"https:\/\/spellableaudio.s3.amazonaws.com\/0303506976_2.mp3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">audio<\/a>)\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Dolce is a musical direction that says to play softly and sweetly.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It comes from the Latin word &#8216;dulcis&#8217; meaning sweet. The root also appears in the word <a href=\"https:\/\/www.merriam-webster.com\/dictionary\/dulcet\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">dulcet<\/a> (<a href=\"https:\/\/spellableaudio.s3.amazonaws.com\/1342491830_2.mp3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">audio<\/a>).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Another word that shares this root is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.merriam-webster.com\/dictionary\/dolcian\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">dolcian<\/a> (<a href=\"https:\/\/spellableaudio.s3.amazonaws.com\/0369781960_1.mp3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">audio<\/a>), a type of soft-toned organ! This woodwind instrument dates back to the Renaissance and was the predecessor to the bassoon.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.merriam-webster.com\/dictionary\/tranquillo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">tranquillo<\/a> (<a href=\"https:\/\/spellableaudio.s3.amazonaws.com\/0164358421_1.mp3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">audio<\/a>)\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Tranquillo instructs a musician to play in a quiet or calm manner.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>This comes from the Latin word &#8216;tranquillus&#8217; for quiet, calm, or still.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Another commonly confused musical direction is piano! The difference between piano and tranquillo is that piano is a dynamic (referring to volume and power), while tranquillo refers to a style and the feeling the music should invoke in the listener.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.merriam-webster.com\/dictionary\/marcato\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">marcato<\/a> (<a href=\"https:\/\/spellableaudio.s3.amazonaws.com\/1874009982_2.mp3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">audio<\/a>)\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A passage played marcato is played louder or more forcefully than the surrounding music.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Marcato comes from the Italian word &#8216;marcare&#8217; meaning to mark.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A marcato is a type of accent in music composition.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>If you&#8217;re interested in learning more, check out <a href=\"https:\/\/composercode.com\/musical-terms\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">this site<\/a> &#8212; it&#8217;s got plenty of musical terms to explore. As always, happy spelling!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Around the world, different people have developed their own ways to create music unique to their culture. As a result, there are plenty of words to define the world of music. Today, I&#8217;m going to delve into some words for directions in music and the Latin and Italian root words they are derived from. If&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[23],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-235","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-roots"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.mightywords.co\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/235","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.mightywords.co\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.mightywords.co\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.mightywords.co\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.mightywords.co\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=235"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/blog.mightywords.co\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/235\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":317,"href":"https:\/\/blog.mightywords.co\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/235\/revisions\/317"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.mightywords.co\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=235"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.mightywords.co\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=235"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.mightywords.co\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=235"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}