Italian music terminology consists of words and phrases used in the discussion of the music of Italy . Some Italian music terms are derived from the common Italian language . Others come from Spanish , or Neapolitan , Sicilian , Sardinian or other regional languages of Italy . The terms listed here describe a genre, song form, dance, instrument, style, quality of music, technique or other important aspect of Italian music.[1] [2]
alessandrina : A skipping dance from the area around Pavia [1] alta danza : Early Spanish name for the saltarello [3] argismo : A Sicilian term for the tarantella healing ritual, from argia , spider [2] ariosa : A Carnival dance[1] bal drabces : A Carnival dance[1] ballarella : A variant name for the saltarello [2] ballo dei Gobbi : A Carnival dance, dance of the hunchbacks [4] ballo della Veneziana : A 2/2 dance of Venetian origin[4] ballo di baraben : A ritual dance[1] ballo di Mantova : A folk skipping dance[1] ballu tundu : A traditional Sardinian folk dance[5] ballu tzopu : A Sardinian folk dance[5] balùn : A folk dance[1] bas de tach : A Carnival dance[1] crellareccia : A wedding dance in the sonata per la sposa of Alta Sabina [1] danza dei coltelli : The dance of the knives , a knife dance derived from the tarantella [6] forlana : Venetian term for the furlana [7] friulana : Venetian term for the furlana [7] furlana : A folk dance, from Campieli , favored in Venice[7] furlane : Venetian term for the furlana [7] frullana : Venetian term for the furlana [7] gagliarda : Italian term for the galliarde [8] gagliarde : Italian term for the galliarde [8] giga : A skipping dance from the area around Pavia [1] liscio : A ballroom dance[4] monferrina : A 6/8 dance historically associated with Monferrato and the valleys of Fassa and Rendena [1] [4] muleta : A Carnival dance[1] pas in amur : A Carnival dance[1] passo brabante : An alternate term for the saltarello [3] passu'e trese : A Sardinian folk dance[5] perigurdino : A skipping dance from the area around Pavia [1] piana : A skipping dance from the area around Pavia[1] povera donna : A skipping dance from the area around Pavia, a Carnival ritual dance[1] pizzica tarantata : An old form of the tarantella [6] rezianka zagatina : A folk dance[1] roncastalda : A folk skipping dance[1] rose e fiori : A Carnival dance[1] ruggero : A folk skipping dance[1] russiano : A folk dance, said to originate in Russi [4] sa seria : A Sardinian folk dance[5] saltarella : A variant name for the saltarello [2] saltarelle : A variant name for the saltarello [3] saltarello : A widespread, leaping folk dance, originally in 3/4 time, and later in 3/8 and 6/8, derived from a court dance that evolved from the galliarde and was originally known in Spain as the alta danza , from saltare , to leap [3] savatarelle : A variant name for the saltarello [2] sos gocios : A Sardinian folk dance[5] sos mutos : A Sardinian folk dance[5] sposina : A skipping dance for brides from the area around Pavia [1] stuzzichetto : A variant name for the saltarello [2] su ballu : Popular Sardinian dances[9] ta matianowa : A folk dance[1] ta palacowa : A folk dance[1] ta panawa : A folk dance[1] tammorriata or tammuriata : A Campanian couple dance, accompanied by lyric songs called strambotti and tammorra tambourines[10] tarantel : An alternate term for the tarantella [11] tarantella : A couple dance in 6/8 time, intended to cure the supposedly poisonous bite of the tarantula [11] tarantismo : An Apulian term for the tarantella healing ritual[9] tarantolati : The tarantella ritual as it is practiced in Puglia[6] [9] tarentella : An alternate term for the tarantella [11] tarentule : An alternate term for the tarantella [11] ballo tondo : An alternate term for ballu tundu [5] ballu torrau : A Sardinian folk dance[5] trescone : A folk dance, one of Italy's oldest[4] Instrumentation [ edit ] arpicelli : The Viggiano harp bena : A Sardinian clarinet [6] bifora , also pifara : a Sicilian double reed instrument of the oboe family, related to the shawm and to the piffero[12] bunkula : A cello .[1] cannacione : A historical, rural form of lute[2] cembalo : A hammered dulcimer [2] chitarra : A guitar, also a voice in trallalero ensembles that imitates the guitar[13] chitarra battente : A four- or five-steel stringed guitar , beating guitar [2] chiterra : A Sardinian guitar[5] ciaramella : A single-reed pipe, or oboe , also a bagpipe in Alta Sabina [2] [14] citira : A violin[1] du' bottë : Abruzzese double bass diatonic accordion[15] firlinfeu : A panflute [2] fisarmonica : A chromatic piano accordion[14] friscalettu : A Sicilian folk flute[16] ghironda : A hurdy-gurdy most common in Emilia, Lombardy and Piedmont[2] launeddas : A Sardinian clarinet, played using circular breathing[1] [2] [9] lira : A three-stringed bowed fiddle, played on the knee, most common in Calabria[2] mandola : A string instrument similar to both the guitar and mandolin [16] mandolino : An Italian lute with eight or twelve strings[16] müsa : A bagpipe[1] organetto : A diatonic button accordion which accompanies the saltarello , and has largely replaced the bagpipe [2] [9] piffaro , piffero : A double-reed shawm [16] piva : A kind of Lombard bagpipe[1] [2] putipù : A friction drum[2] raganelle : A cog rattle [2] ribeba : An alternate term, rebab , for the scacciapensieri [2] scacciapensieri : A mouth harp found in the Alpine north and Sicily, care-chaser [2] simbalo : A tambourine[1] solitu : A Sardinian traditional shepherd's flute[5] surdulina : A bagpipe from Basilicata[1] tamburello : A small frame drum, used to accompany the tarantella , also a tambourine[2] [9] tamburini : A tambourine [2] tammora : A large frame drum[9] tamura : A large frame drum[9] torototela : A bowed, one-string fiddle, most common in northeast Italy[2] triangulu : A Sardinian triangle [5] triccheballacche : A Neapolitan percussion instrument, built with mallets attached to a wooden frame, wooden clapper [1] [2] [14] tromba degli zingari : An alternate term, trumpet of the Gypsies , for the scacciapensieri [2] trunfa : A Sardinian jaw harp , or mouth harp , trump , similar to the scacciapensieri [5] A zampogna tumborro : A Sardinian tambourine [5] zampogna : A southern Italian bagpipe, most commonly with two drones and two conical chanters[16] zampogna a paro : A single-reed and two- or three drone zampogna , found in Calabria and Sicily[1] zampogna zoppa : A mostly double-reed and variably droned zampogna , found in central Italy[1] Songs, formats and pieces [ edit ] addio padre : A post-war political song[4] ajri : A form of Albanian-Calabrian multi-part song[17] asprese : A form of multi-part song from Lazio[17] banda comunale : A local, civic band[2] a bandieri bella : A form of Calabrian secular multi-part song[17] baride : Sicilian brass bands [9] basso : A kind of song in Dignano [1] bei : A kind of Tuscan polyphony, especially known near Monte Amiata , also bei-bei [17] bitinada : A singing style for three men, most common in Rovigno in Istria[1] boare : work songs [1] canti alla boara : A kind of lyric song associated with the cantaustorie [4] buiasche : A kind of polyphonic song from the village of Bogli [9] butunada : A song form peculiar to Rovigno [1] camminareccia : A piece of wedding music in the sonata per la sposa of Alta Sabina[1] canzone a ballo : A dance song[2] canzone Italiana : Italian song [2] canzone Napoletana : A kind of popular song from Naples, Neapolitan song [9] canzune : A Sicilian term for lyric songs[2] canti a catoccu : A kind of lyric song[2] canti carnascialeschi : Carnival songs[2] cepranese : A form of multi-part song from Lazio[17] cioparedda : A form of Calabrian multi-part song[17] concertini : Small, violin-based ensembles most common in Emilia, Bagolino and Resia[1] canto a coppia' : A kind of central Italian two-part singing similar to canti a vatoccu [1] cozzupara : A form of Calabrian multi-part song[17] canto a dispetto : A Tuscan term, song of the despised , equivalent to canto a vatoccu [2] endecasillabo : A central Italian song form with phrases of eleven syllables[9] canti alla falciatora : Scything songs[1] fogli volanti : Printed popular songs called in English broadsides , most commonly used for Italian ballads [2] giustiniane : A kind of popular historic song, named after Leonardo Giustiniani [1] laude : Strophic songs, often in Latin[1] [2] canti lirici : Italian lyric songs, or canto lirico-monostrifici [17] canti alla longa : A kind of lyric song[2] maggi a serenata : A maggio love song[2] maggio della anime purganti : A maggio song for the souls in Purgatory [4] maggio delle ragazze : A maggio song for young girls[4] maggio drammatico : A music and drama celebration held during maggio [1] [2] maitinade : A kind of dance song, most common in Trento ; it is composed of six-line stanzas of eleven syllables per line[2] mantignada : A song form peculiar to Sissano [1] metitora : A form of two-part song from Lazio[17] canti alla mietitora : Harvesting songs[1] mondine : A kind of rural, woman's folk song[4] canto alla monmarella : work songs [1] montasolina : A form of multi-part song from Lazio[17] ninna nanna : A folk lullaby [4] a oli oledda : A form of Calabrian multi-part song[17] orazioni : A kind of Sicilian narrative folk song[1] canti degli orbi : A kind of Sicilian narrative folk song, associated with blind musicians[1] orologio della passione : An alternate term, used in musical collections, for the canto della passione [2] ottava rima : An eight line song, most common in Central Italy, especially Lazio, Tuscany and Abruzzo[1] [2] [9] pajarella : A form of Lazio multi-part song[17] canto della passione : A central Italian begging song, performed before Easter, also known as orologio della passione (clock of the passion )[2] alla pennese : A kind of two-part singing from Lazio, similar to canti a vatoccu [17] canto a pennese : A work song [1] canti a pera : A kind of lyric song from Gallesano [1] [2] piagnereccia : A piece of wedding music in the sonata per la sposa of Alta Sabina[1] poeti contadini : An alternate term, peasant poets , for ottava rima polesane : A kind of dance song[2] canti de questua : Begging songs[18] recchia : A kind of central Italian two-part singing similar to canti a vatoccu [1] a recchione : A form of multi-part song from Lazio[17] a reuta : A form of Lazian multi-part song[17] rispetti : A kind of lyric song[2] a rosabella : A form of Calabrian multi-part song[17] serenata : A love song[1] sonata per la sposa : A musical ritual from Alta Sabina [1] sonetto : A lyrical form consisting of four lines of seven syllables[1] canti alla stesa : A kind of lyric song[2] stornelli : A kind of solo lyric song, from the Provençal estorn , to challenge [2] stornello : A Sicilian folk song[14] storia : A kind of southern, long song[1] strambotti : A kind of lyric song, from the Provençal estribar , to lash [2] stranotti : A kind of lyric song[2] strina : A form of Calabrian multi-part song[17] tenores : Sardinian polyphonic chant[9] testamenti : A kind of Carnival song[2] I Tubi Lungimiranti : dirty and garage tiir : A kind of polyphonic song from Premana in Lombardy[2] trallalero : A kind of Genoese polyphony[1] [2] [9] canti a vatoccu : A kind of polyphonic lyric song, usually for two to three women, songs in the manner of a bell clapper , most common in Umbria, and the Apennines of Abruzza and the Marche[1] [2] verolana : A form of multi-part song from Lazio[17] villanella : A form of Calabrian multi-part song[17] villotte : A kind of lyric song with verses of 8 or 11 syllables[1] [2] a voca regolare : A form of Calabrian multi-part song[17] a voca diritta : A form of Calabrian multi-part song[17] vjersh : A form of Albanian multi-part song found in Calabria and Basilicata[9] [17] Techniques [ edit ] accordo : A multi-part singing technique, also canto ad accordo [17] basci : The bass voice in a trallalero ensemble[13] bassu : The bass voice of the Sardinian tenores [9] boghe : The lead vocalist of a Sardinian tenores ensemble[9] chitarra : A guitar, also a voice in trallalero ensembles that imitates the guitar[13] contra : The counter-vocalist of the Sardinian tenores [9] controbasso : The baritone vocalist of the trallalero tradition[13] contrubassu : Alternate term for controbasso , the baritone vocalist of the trallalero tradition[13] cuntrètu : A falsetto voice[1] mesa boghe : The middle voice of the Sardinian tenores [9] primmu : The tenor voice in a trallalero ensemble[13] Other terms [ edit ] bandautore : A cantautore who composes music for a band[19] bello ideale : An aesthetic idea which embraced a predominant melody and other elements, beautiful ideal [1] boghe ballu : In Sardinian, harmony , or a danceable singing rhythm , literally we dance with our voice [5] cantastorie : Itinerant musicians, now most commonly found in Sicily[1] [2] cantautori : Popular, modern singer-songwriters [19] carnevale : The Italian Carnival [4] carnevale de Bagolino : A very famous Carnival, in the town of Bagolino , Brescia [2] condanna della vecchiaccia : An Umbrian ceremony that heralds the return of spring, the condemnation of the crone [2] maggio : A May celebration[2] mamutones : Masked performers in processions in Mamoiada in Sardinia[1] scacciamarzo : A spring holiday[2] sega la vecchia : An old mid-Lent ceremony, the sawing of the witch [2] tarantate : Women who had been supposedly poisoned by the tarantula bite, and intended to cure themselves through the tarantella ritual[2] tratto marzo : A spring holiday[2] urlatori : A shouter , an expressive vocalist[2] la vecchia : A carnevale ritual from Pontelangiorno [4] veglie : A central Italian musical gathering[1] References [ edit ] ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo New Grove Encyclopedia of Music , pp 637–680 ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj Keller, Marcello Sorce, Roberto Catalano and Giuseppina Colicci, "Italy" in the Garland Encyclopedia of World Music , pp 604–625 ^ a b c d "Saltarello" . StreetSwing's Dance History Archives . Retrieved July 15, 2006 . ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Italian Treasury - Alan Lomax Collection" . Musical Traditions Internet Magazine . Retrieved July 15, 2006 . ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Il coro a tenores CULTURA POPOLARE di Neoneli" . Isolasarda . Retrieved July 15, 2006 . ^ a b c d "Workshops" . Musicantica . Retrieved July 15, 2006 . ^ a b c d e "Furlana" . StreetSwing's Dance History Archives . Retrieved July 15, 2006 . ^ a b "Galliarde" . Street Swing's Dance History Archives . Retrieved July 15, 2006 . ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t Surian, Allessio, "Tenores and Tarantellas", in the Rough Guide to World Music , pp 189–201 ^ "International Dance Glossary" . World Music Central . Archived from the original on July 11, 2006. Retrieved July 15, 2006 . ^ a b c d "La Tarantella" . StreetSwing's Dance History Archives . Retrieved July 15, 2006 . ^ Mario Sarica, Strumenti Musicali Popolari in Sicilia , Assessorato alla cultura, Provincia di Messina 1994. Excerpted in Il Flauto in Sicilia (in Italian) ^ a b c d e f "A LAVAGNA CANTI E RIME DAL TRALLALERO AL SUD ITALIA" . Prono Provincia Notizie (in Italian). Archived from the original on May 12, 2006. Retrieved July 15, 2006 . ^ a b c d Levy, "Italian Music" in the Garland Encyclopedia of World Music , pp 860–864 ^ "Accordion History in Italy" . Accordions.com . Retrieved July 15, 2006 . ^ a b c d e "Glossary of Folk Musical Instruments & Styles from Around the World" . Hobgoblin Info Source . Retrieved April 20, 2006 . ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w Antonello Ricci. "Multivocal music in Central and Southern Italy" . Detailed Maps on the Spreading of Multipart Singing in the Balkans and in the Mediterranean . Retrieved July 15, 2006 . ^ "Sicilian Folklife" . Italian Los Angeles . Retrieved July 15, 2006 . ^ a b Monti, Giangilberto; Veronica Di Pietro. Dizionario dei cantautori . Retrieved July 15, 2006 .