stretto

American  

[stret-oh] / ˈstrɛt oʊ /

noun

Music.

plural

stretti, strettos

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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Etymology

Origin of stretto

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

Example Sentences

His manœuvre that morning had been a wild and undisciplined fugue, culminating in an unconventional stretto upon an exceedingly dominant pedal-point, that is to say, his heel on my toe.

From Punch or the London Charivari, Vol. 147, November 25, 1914 by Seaman, Owen, Sir

One of its rules was that every fugue should have a stretto.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 7, Slice 2 "Constantine Pavlovich" to "Convention" by Various

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

From Massimilla Doni by Balzac, Honoré de

A definitely faster tempo at once     più allegro più presto più animato più mosso più tosto più stretto un poco animato     Terms Indicating a Slower Tempo     1.

From Essentials in Conducting by Gehrkens, Karl Wilson

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 Mapleson, James H.