espressivo
Americanadjective
adverb
adjective
Etymology
Origin of espressivo
First recorded in 1785–95; from Italian; see expressive ( def. )
Explanation
It's obvious how close the Italian word espressivo is to the English "expressive," which is exactly what it means in a piece of music. The voices and instruments are supposed to perform that passage with lots of expression or feeling. You may have seen movies where characters try out for a musical role. Some of them sing not quite in tune. Others get all the notes right, but are boring to listen to because no emotion or feeling comes through in their singing. They aren't singing espressivo! In such movies, the hero or heroine gets the role because the director listening to them is moved to tears or excitement by their espressivo singing.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Ustvolskaya demands not that effects be the usual espressivo but espressivissimo.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 12, 2018
The cellist Norman Fischer, Robert Sirota’s classmate at the Oberlin Conservatory, and the pianist Jeanne Kierman Fischer were poised and expressive in the rich, poignant Adagio espressivo from Mr. Sirota’s Sonata for Cello and Piano.
From New York Times ● Sep. 16, 2012
Although Mr. Ashkenasi sounded slightly abrasive at times in the Moszkowski, his tone here was focused and sweet, particularly in the lush Andante espressivo.
From New York Times ● Oct. 5, 2011
The Adagio espressivo was particularly successful, thanks largely to magnificently sweet-toned solo playing by Miranda Cuckson, the violinist; Ms. Griffin, the violist; Keve Wilson, the oboist; and Lance Suzuki, the flutist.
From New York Times ● Jun. 23, 2010
The following portion, beginning in E-flat major, but often modulating—its graceful theme sung by the clarinets, dolce espressivo, answered by flutes and oboes—e.g.,
From Music: An Art and a Language by Spalding, Walter Raymond
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
