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‖ primo, a. and n.|ˈprimo|
[It., = first: cf. prima2.]
A. adj. Used in some phrases, chiefly musical, as primo basso, chief bass singer (also fig.); primo buffo, chief male comic singer or actor; primo tenore (assoluto), chief tenor singer (of outstanding ability); primo uomo, singer of the chief male part; (see also quots.).
1740J. Grassineau Mus. Dict. 183 Primo, the first; this word is often abridg'd, P°, I°..and added to other words, as Primo canto,—the first treble. 1801Busby Dict. Mus., Primo (Ital.). First: as Primo Violono [sic], first violin; Primo Flauto, first flute. 1826M. Kelly Reminisc. I. 48 The celebrated Genaro Luzzio was the primo buffo, and the principal female, La Coltellini, was delightful, both as a comic actress and singer. 1848Geo. Eliot Let. 8 June (1954) I. 266 Dear Quartett of Friends—I may still say so, though I fear your primo basso has departed. 1855― in Fraser's Mag. July 50/2 He will write no part to suit a primo tenore. 1876Stainer & Barrett Dict. Mus. Terms 366/1 Primo, (It.) First (masc.), as tempo primo, at the original pace or time; violino primo, first fiddle; primo buffo, chief comic actor or singer; primo musico and primo uomo, principal male singer in the opera. 1880Grove Dict. Mus. II. 509/1 It was de rigueur that the First Man (Primo uomo) should be an artificial Soprano. Ibid. 514/1 The chief, or Buffo group, consisted of two Female Performers..and three Men, distinguished as the Primo Buffo, [etc.]. 1889G. B. Shaw London Music 1888–89 (1937) 166 His dignity as primo tenore assoluto. 1938Times Lit. Suppl. 28 May 370/3 What the primo uomo was to the eighteenth-century opera..the man with the stick is to the symphony concerts. 1955E. Dent in H. Van Thal Fanfare for E. Newman 86 The first half of the nineteenth century..was the triumph of the prima donna over the primo uomo, the castrato hero of the eighteenth century, though she soon had to face her rival in the primo tenore.
B. as n.
1. Mus. In a pianoforte duet, the upper part; the pianist who plays this part.
1792J. A. K. Colizzi Three Duets for Two Performers on the Harpsichord or Piano Forté 3 Primo. 1883Grove Dict. Mus. III. 30/2 In pianoforte duets, Primo or 1mo is generally put over the right-hand page, and then means the part taken by the ‘treble’ player. 1954K. Dale 19th-Cent. Piano Mus. xii. 284 Swirling cadenzas of scales in demisemiquavers for performance by primo. Ibid. 286 The playing of six quavers in a bar by primo against four by secondo throughout the whole of the trio section cannot have been altogether easy for the young performer. 1964G. Read Mus. Notation xviii. 298 For four-hand music on one instrument, the two parts are placed on facing pages..the first player (primo; top part) reads from the right-hand page. 1965Listener 1 July 33/3 Britten's rhythmic control as secondo balancing and counteracting Richter's natural genius as primo.
2. (With capital initial.) A title given to an official of the Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes.
1879Buffalo 16 Jan. 3/3 Yours fraternally, Primo James Dewsbury. Ibid. 5/1 Primos who..have been elevated to the position of Knights of the Order of Merit. 1928Daily Express 2 Aug. 9/5 Mr. J. C. E. Cartwright.., Grand Primo of England, inaugurated the Croydon and District Provincial Grand Lodge... The Grand Primo of the new lodge is Mr. L. R. N. Percy. 1966R.A.O.B. Centenary, South Yorkshire, 1866–1966 (Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes), Of the 17 Provincial Grand Primos..only two have been taken from us by the call of the reaper.
Add:[A.] 2. First-class, first-rate; of top quality. slang (orig. and chiefly U.S.).
1975High Times Dec. 105/1 (Advt.), A creamy cheesecake made fresh daily in New York, using only ‘primo’ natural ingredients. 1986Amer. Film June 4/1 The Taylor murder had all the elements of a primo Hollywood thriller. 1987Performance Sept./Oct. 8/1 Anna Thew (once, I'm told, a go-go dancer but now a primo avant-garde film maker). |