alla capellaadv.n.
/ˌalə kəˈpɛlə/, /ˌɑːlə kəˈpɛlə/, U.S. /ˌɑlə kəˈpɛlə/ Music.
A. adv.
In the style of music composed for a church or chapel, esp. the restrained style of 16th cent. choral music typified by Palestrina; spec. (a) = a cappella adv. 1; (b) = alla breve adv.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > music > musical sound > duration of notes > proportion of notes or rhythm > [adverb] > type of rhythm
alla breve1740
alla capella1742
a cappella1841
square1960
society > leisure > the arts > music > type of music > vocal music > religious or devotional > [adverb] > without or with unison accompaniment
alla capella1742
a cappella1785
1742 J. Galliard tr. P. F. Tosi Observ. Florid Song i. 17 Some Singers, in Compositions Alla Capella, know not how to distinguish the Mi from the Fa, without the Help of the Organ.
1789 C. Burney Gen. Hist. Music III. i. 114 The second part is chiefly in D and G minor, but ends, alla Capella, in D major.
1850 New Gen. Biogr. Dict. III. 80/1 He was the only one, who at that time followed the ancient grandiose style of composing alla capella.
1865 tr. L. Spohr Autobiogr. II. 107 I was seized with the desire of trying for once an ecclesiastic piece alla Capella for several voices.
1900 Musical Times 41 359/1 ‘A prayer for those at sea’..is in the key of F, 3–4 time, alla capella.
1976 Music & Lett. 57 434 The fugues are unusually learned in style, three of them being marked ‘Alla cappella’ and treated quite strictly.
2004 M. Wood As I Say xxv. 81 And launched into and with much fortissimo, not at all alla capella, our favourite hymn.
B. n.
= alla breve n. Also: a piece or movement marked to be performed alla cappella. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > music > musical sound > duration of notes > [noun] > specifically by time signature
alla breve1731
measure note1809
alla capella1859
society > leisure > the arts > music > piece of music > section of piece of music > [noun] > passage executed in specific way
concerto grosso1724
legatoa1757
ad libitum1759
larghetto1760
moderato1762
bravura1787
pomposo1807
tutti1816
spiritoso1829
alla capella1859
alla marcia1860
passage work1865
retrogression1869
largamente1878
religioso1888
grandioso1914
animato1924
pesante1932
precipitato1955
1817 T. Busby Dict. Music (ed. 4) Alla Capella, an expression applied by the Italians generally, to music composed in the church style; but occasionally, only as referring to time.]
1859 Musical Times 9 162/1 This measure is called alla capella, and is often only marked by a mere 4.
1879 E. Prout in G. Grove Dict. Music I. 53/2 Alla Breve..This time, chiefly used in the older church music..was also called Alla Capella.
1920 E. Elgar in Musical Times 61 514/1 Nothing Mr. Button or anyone else can say will uproot my affection for the Alla cappella of Fugue No. 4..and the Alla breve of Fugue No. 9.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2012; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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adv.n.1742