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

plural

sostenutos,

plural

sostenuti

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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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

Molto sostenuto, in changed rhythm of three slow beats, comes "Penthesilea's Dream of the Feast of Roses."

From Symphonies and Their Meaning; Third Series, Modern Symphonies by Goepp, Philip H.

The basis of phrasing then, may be found in legato, sostenuto and contrast.

From The Head Voice and Other Problems Practical Talks on Singing by Clippinger, D. A. (David Alva)

We have now to look to something slightly resembling the principle of the violin or of the organ, in order to secure the additional sostenuto effect for which we are searching.

From Twentieth Century Inventions A Forecast by Sutherland, George