alla breve

American  

[ah-luh brev-ey, ahl-lah bre-ve] / ˈɑ lə ˈbrɛv eɪ, ˈɑl lɑ ˈbrɛ vɛ /

adverb

Music.

1. using the half note as the basic time unit; 2/2 time.

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alla breve British  

/ ˈælə ˈbreɪvɪ, ˈalla ˈbrɛːve /

noun

1. a musical time signature indicating two or four minims to a bar

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adjective

1. twice as fast as normal

Etymology

Origin of alla breve

1800–10; < Italian: in short time, accelerated. See brief

Example Sentences

He indicates alla breve with 88 to the half.

From Project Gutenberg

He writes upon a sonata Presto, or even Prestissimo and alla breve, and plays it Allegro in 4-4 time.

From Project Gutenberg

Ask Herbeck in my name not to drag the tempi; the "Gloria," more especially, must be taken the more rapidly as it proceeds—the time to be beaten throughout alla breve.

From Project Gutenberg

All the editions are lento with alla breve.

From Project Gutenberg