sostenuto

American  

[sos-tuh-noo-toh, soh-stuh-, saws-te-noo-taw] / ˌsɒs təˈnu toʊ, ˌsoʊ stə-, ˌsɔs tɛˈnu tɔ /

adjective

1. sustained or prolonged in the time value of the tones.

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noun

sostenutos, plural sostenuti plural

1. a movement or passage played in this manner.

sostenuto British  

/ ˌsɒstəˈnuːtəʊ /

adjective

1. music (preceded by a tempo marking) to be performed in a smooth sustained manner

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• sostenuti
  plural
• sostenutos
  plural

Etymology

Origin of sostenuto

1715–25; < Italian, past participle of sostenere; see sustain

Example Sentences

Robbins Landon, is a Largo e sostenuto in D minor, and stares straight at its kin in Beethoven, the brooding Largo e mesto of Op.

From New York Times • Sep. 16, 2022

And humor, as when vibrato-rich sostenuto in the violins is interrupted by a belching low note from the cello.

From New York Times • Apr. 15, 2019

The Prelude to the first movement, un poco sostenuto, is of impressive solemnity, developed from the motto, and based on the almost persistent iteration of the pedal notes C and G—the tonic and dominant.

From Music: An Art and a Language by Spalding, Walter Raymond

Its first movement is labelled "Andante sostenuto," and commences with a long introduction for the piano, somewhat in the style of Bach.

From Masters of French Music by Hervey, Arthur

There is a good effect gained by sustaining certain notes over several measures, though few pianists get a real sostenuto.

From Contemporary American Composers Being a Study of the Music of This Country, Its Present Conditions and Its Future, with Critical Estimates and Biographies of the Principal Living Composers; and an Abundance of Portraits, Fac-simile Musical Autographs, and Compositions by Hughes, Rupert