stretto

American  

[stret-oh] / ˈstrɛt oʊ /

noun

Music.

• stretti,
  plural
• strettos
  plural

1. the close overlapping of statements of the subject in a fugue, each voice entering immediately after the preceding one.

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stretto British  

/ ˈstrɛtəʊ /

noun

1. (in a fugue) the close overlapping of two parts or voices, the second one entering before the first has completed its statement of the subject

2. Also called: stretta. a concluding passage in a composition, played at a faster speed than the earlier material

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• stretti
  plural
• strettos
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of stretto

1745–55; < Italian: literally, narrow < Latin strictus. See strict, strait

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

stretto stretti

It is in four parts, but in one place the addition of a fifth part and stretto treatment render the feeling of grief more intense.

From The Pianoforte Sonata Its Origin and Development by J. S. (John South) Shedlock

The Duchess sat on the floor of the box reading one of them, and turning of course very rapidly over the leaves during the stretto of the "Leonora" overture.

From The Mapleson Memoirs, vol I 1848-1888 by James H. Mapleson

Mistress Page then enters with the subject, followed by Sweet Anne in stretto, Pistol meanwhile starting with the counter-subject, closely followed by Ford, with Dr Caius in stretto.

From Shakespeare and Music by Christopher Wilson

He was thinking more of his prima donna than of Elcia when he wrote that stretto.

From Massimilla Doni by Honoré de Balzac

"Dov' e mai quel core amante," she murmured in Italian, as la Tinti began the delightful aria of the stretto in which she implores pity for her grief.

From Massimilla Doni by Honoré de Balzac

The Italians have a proverb, which I hope you have not forgot poor Pierrotti's lessons so far as not to comprehend—'Volto sciolto e pensieri stretti.'

From Great Men and Famous Women, Vol. 7 A Series of Pen and Pencil Sketches of the Lives of More Than 200 of the Most Prominent Personages in History by Charles F. (Charles Francis) Horne

‘Signor Arrigo mio,’ says he, ‘I pensieri stretti ed il viso sciolto will go safely over the whole world.’

From Minor Poems by Milton by John Milton

I see it in his eye, I hear it in the tread of his foot; volto sciolto he has not; i pensieri stretti he has.

From My Novel — Complete by Edward Bulwer Lytton, Baron Lytton

Milton had not acted on Sir Henry Wootton's advice to him, il volto sciolto, i pensieri stretti.

From Life of John Milton by Richard Garnett

Certainly no one ever more fully grasped the sense of the famous sentence given by Wotton to Milton, when the latter was starting on his travels: “I pensieri stretti ed il viso sciolto.”

From Andrew Marvell by John Morley

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