Definition of pianissimo in English:
pianissimo
adverb & adjective ˌpɪəˈnɪsɪməʊ
Music (especially as a direction) very soft or softly.
Example sentencesExamples
- The feathery pianissimo lightness in the upper strings against the mezzo forte melody lower down is perfectly weighted.
- From the furiously fast runs of the opening to the lyrical to the rapturous to pianissimo trills that were hardly there, the playing was stunning.
- There was some impressive solo playing from the woodwind principals in this performance and the orchestra produced a beautifully controlled pianissimo ending.
- The conductor emphasises them strongly against pianissimo strings to marvelous effect, more so than in any other interpretation on disc.
- Because of the frequent register changes, the student continually must be moving to and preparing for the next sound in order to create a fluid, legato line within a predominantly pianissimo dynamic range.
nounPlural pianissimos, Plural pianissimi ˌpɪəˈnɪsɪməʊˌpiəˈnɪsəˌmoʊ
Music A passage performed or marked to be performed very softly.
Example sentencesExamples
- Few pianists produce such gorgeous pianissimos!
- She makes great use of pianissimi and the way she controls the legato gives her performances a subtlety not often heard.
- Today's pianists must work with plastic, wood, felt,, copper, iron and steel to make all kinds of sounds ranging from delicate pianissimos to robust fortissimos.
- The surging waves of orchestral sound, radiant pianissimos and brilliant flashes of color were awesome!
- And as performance dates drew close rehearsals became almost terrifying in their propulsive, impelling commitment - pianissimos were scaled to a whisper and fortes forceful and triumphant.
Origin
Italian, superlative of piano (see piano2).
Rhymes
altissimo, fortissimo, generalissimo
Definition of pianissimo in US English:
pianissimo
adjective & adverbˌpiəˈnɪsəˌmoʊˌpēəˈnisəˌmō
Music (especially as a direction) very soft or softly.
Example sentencesExamples
- The feathery pianissimo lightness in the upper strings against the mezzo forte melody lower down is perfectly weighted.
- From the furiously fast runs of the opening to the lyrical to the rapturous to pianissimo trills that were hardly there, the playing was stunning.
- There was some impressive solo playing from the woodwind principals in this performance and the orchestra produced a beautifully controlled pianissimo ending.
- Because of the frequent register changes, the student continually must be moving to and preparing for the next sound in order to create a fluid, legato line within a predominantly pianissimo dynamic range.
- The conductor emphasises them strongly against pianissimo strings to marvelous effect, more so than in any other interpretation on disc.
nounˌpiəˈnɪsəˌmoʊˌpēəˈnisəˌmō
Music A passage marked to be performed very softly.
Example sentencesExamples
- Today's pianists must work with plastic, wood, felt,, copper, iron and steel to make all kinds of sounds ranging from delicate pianissimos to robust fortissimos.
- She makes great use of pianissimi and the way she controls the legato gives her performances a subtlety not often heard.
- And as performance dates drew close rehearsals became almost terrifying in their propulsive, impelling commitment - pianissimos were scaled to a whisper and fortes forceful and triumphant.
- Few pianists produce such gorgeous pianissimos!
- The surging waves of orchestral sound, radiant pianissimos and brilliant flashes of color were awesome!
Origin
Italian, superlative of piano (see piano).