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Why does music still have Italian names?
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Many of the symbols and notations used in modern music still have Italian names. But, it is common for composers to use English or another language when indicating expression. It’s important for every musician to have a basic understanding of the most common Italian terminology.
- Banjo
Since banjos don't come in student sizes (like guitars and...
- Banjo
- Some Terms Crept Into The English Dictionary
- The Language Itself Is Musical
- So What If All Composers Wrote Directions in Their Own Language?
There are some Italian terms like ‘tempo’, ‘adagio’, ‘allegretto’ and ‘rallentando’ which are only used in the context of writing or reading music. But others, like ‘concerto’, ‘piano’, ‘soprano’ and ‘opera’ were so stylish that they have made their way from the original Italian into our everyday musical vocabulary. And it wasn't just the terms the...
Italian is often called a naturally musical language – so there’s something fitting in the fact that it’s this language that’s used for musical directions. This isn’t to say that every composer has stuck to the standard. Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony No. 6 is marked in German, while moments of Debussy’s Clair de luneare marked in French.
Many have! Mahler, for example, stuck to German for many of the directions in his symphonies. And perhaps writing in their own language allows composers to more effectively communicate their meaning. After all, some things are always lost in translation. But then, crucially, music – and music directions – would no longer be a universal language…
- Maddy Shaw Roberts
Aug 30, 2020 · We look at how and why Italian became the default language used in music, and ask the question: should Italian still be used today? Here's why musicians shouldn't be discouraged from using their specialist language.
In short, this is because Italian not just sounds beautifully melodic but most importantly because Italian had a huge influence in the history of music. Starting from the Medieval time, Italians created an entire music language, new genres, new musical instruments and more.
There's two reasons. First reason is that naming conventions are somewhat arbitrary. Why do we still call modes "Aeolian" or "Ionian" when these geographic locations have not existed for a long, looooong time, under these names?
Have you ever wondered why musical terms like "allegro," "piano," or "fortissimo" are predominantly in Italian, regardless of where the music was composed or the language spoken by the composer? The answer to this intriguing question lies in the rich history and cultural influence of Italy on classical music, coupled with practical ...
Jul 10, 2020 · There’s a more practical reason that Italian is used to describe music. Many of the innovations that created the modern idea of music, took place in what is now Italy.
