allegrettoadv.n.adj.
/ˌalᵻˈɡrɛtəʊ/, U.S. /ˌæləˈɡrɛdoʊ/ Music.
A. adv.
As a musical direction: at a moderately quick tempo; in a moderately brisk or lively manner. Also in extended use.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > music > written or printed music > directions > [adverb] > for tempo
adagio1680
presto1680
vivace1683
largo1702
allegrettoc1710
allegro1721
larghetto1724
lent1724
lento1724
moderato1724
prestissimo1724
stretto1740
a tempo1740
lentamente1762
accelerando1784
rallentando1786
ritardando1806
ritenuto1826
rit.1833
rapido1841
stringendo1853
lentando1854
allargando1873
rall.1876
trascinando1876
animato1879
largando1883
mässig1884
più mosso1931
society > leisure > the arts > music > musical sound > duration of notes > tempo > [adverb] > specific tempo
largo1683
allegrettoc1710
allegro1721
furioso1823
precipitato1876
ricky-tick1942
up tempo1948
c1710 Preceptor for Improved Octave Flageolet 82 in G. Strahle Early Music Dict. (1995) Allegretto, quicker than Andantino.
1740 J. Grassineau tr. S. De Brossard Musical Dict. 3 Allegretto, a diminutive of Allegro, which therefore means pretty quick, but not so quick as Allegro.
a1817 J. Austen Lesley Castle in Love & Freindship (1922) 70 I had..constantly hollowed whenever she played, Bravo, Bravissimo,..allegretto,..and Poco presto with many other such outlandish words, all of them..expressive of my admiration.
1850 W. T. Montcrieff Orig. Coll. Songs 218 How sweet with you to wander, Allegretto through the grove.
1904 F. S. Isham Black Friday 219 A murmur arose from the gallery as the person at the instrument played allegretto.
1960 E. Bodky Interpr. Bach's Keyboard Wks. iv. 107 What was called allegro assai was played in those bygone days as one would now play allegretto.
2008 D. J. Buch Magic Flutes & Enchanted Forests iv. 220 Magical flashes of light appear in the form of quick string figures during a passage marked Allegretto.
B. n.
A movement, passage, or piece played allegretto.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > music > musical sound > duration of notes > tempo > [noun] > specific tempo > passage at
vivace1683
largo1702
agitato1797
allegretto1877
1770 J. Holden Ess. Rational Syst. Music i. v. 41/1 The diminutive Allegretto is less gay and sprightly.
1833 Penny Cycl. I. 514 It..seems to be agreed, that andantino now shall signify a movement quicker than andante—that it shall be the medium between the latter and allegretto.
1877 G. B. Shaw in Hornet 7 Feb. 80/2 The symphony..was very fairly played, especially the allegretto.
1966 Listener 3 Mar. 329/2 A supremely concentrated account of the allegretto.
1999 C. Brown Classical & Romantic Performing Pract. 1750–1900 366 Dvořák was especially fond of writing 2/4 allegrettos.
C. adj.
Moderately quick, brisk, or lively; played allegretto.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > music > musical sound > duration of notes > tempo > [adjective] > specific tempo
runningc1440
pronto1724
adagio1729
andante1742
amoroso1764
tittuping1772
allegretto1783
allegro1794
largo1795
andantino1819
furioso1823
adagietto1841
accelerando1842
rubato1846
bright1872
mosso1876
ritenuto1876
vivace1922
motoric1937
mouvementé1938
tranquillo1939
up tempo1948
downtempo1957
1783 Public Advertiser 17 Dec. The Wife of Schinotti also sung very pleasingly..both in the Affectuoso and Allegretto Passages.
1833 Harmonicon 24/1 The allegretto movement which followed called forth rounds of enthusiastic applause.
1899 E. E. Kellett & E. W. Naylor tr. O. Bie Hist. Pianoforte iv. 113 In an easy 12/8 time the poem begins with an allegretto theme, ingeniously invented, and playful in style.
1915 Art of Music V. viii. 219 This [sc. ‘Dead Flowers’], in moderate two-four time, is strikingly like the allegretto movement of Schubert's C major symphony.
1994 A. V. Ettin Speaking Silences 79 The ensuing bar of rest..after that allegretto passage leaves the listener uncertain.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2012; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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adv.n.adj.c1710