cantabileadj.n.
Music.
A. adj.
In a smooth flowing style, such as would be suited for singing. Also as adv.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > music > written or printed music > directions > [adverb] > for other expression
grave1683
cantabile1724
maestoso1724
staccato1724
legato1740
soavemente1740
tenuto1762
amoroso?1765
spiritoso1767
pomposo1786
scherzando1786
strepitoso1801
grazioso1806
mesto1806
risoluto1817
tripsomely1819
alla marcia1823
energico1824
flautando1825
giocoso1828
grandioso1829
religioso1829
largamente1837
marcato1840
flautato1842
leggiero1851
tranquillo1854
appassionato1857
lamentoso1876
misterioso1876
parlando1876
pesante1876
scherzandissimo1876
affettuoso1879
arioso1879
quasi parlato1908
martellato1928
agitato1944
soave1959
1724 Short Explic. Foreign Words Musick Bks. 17 Cantabile, is to play in a Kind of Singing or Chanting Manner.
1730 N. Bailey et al. Dictionarium Britannicum Cantabile,..is to play in a kind of a chanting or singing manner.
1792 J. W. Callcott Explan. Notes Mus. 27/2 Cantabile, in a vocal stile. This word is sometimes used in the same sense as Cadenza, but very improperly.
1822 Repository No. 80. 103 The smooth, cantable, and expressive melody which pervades its structure.
1864 Realm 13 Apr. 8 Written in a simple cantabile style.
1893–7 J. S. Shedlock tr. K. W. J. H. Riemann Dict. Music 119/1 Cantabile, full of expression... In passages marked c, the principal melody is always made more prominent than the accompanying parts.
1931 D. F. Tovey in Tovey & Craxton Beethoven Piano Sonatas III. 140/2 These bars are in double counterpoint to each other; therefore both hands must play cantabile.
B. n.
Cantabile style; a piece or passage of music of this style.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > music > performing music > expression > [noun] > specific expression
staccato1724
cantabile1744
leggiero1875
martellato1931
pesante1932
1744 J. Green Psalmody 140 Cantabal, Vocal Music.
1787 ‘A. Pasquin’ Children of Thespis ii. 39 Tho her sportive cantabilies win us.
1808 J. Wolcot in Wks. (1812) V. 353 The tuneful Nymph..That in cantabile delights the soul.
1856 M. C. Clarke tr. H. Berlioz Treat. Mod. Instrumentation 81 It expresses them admirably in its cantabile.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1888; most recently modified version published online March 2018).
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adj.n.1724