Staccato is a musical term used to describe a style of playing notes or a musical phrase sharply and abruptly. The spelling of this word is quite straightforward, with each letter corresponding to one phoneme. It starts with a voiceless alveolar plosive /st/, followed by the long vowel /æ/, a voiceless alveolar fricative /k/, and another long vowel /ɑ/ before ending with the dental plosive /t/. In IPA phonetic transcription, the word is pronounced as /stəˈkɑːtəʊ/.
Staccato is an Italian musical term that describes a specific style of playing or singing that is characterized by distinct and sharply separated sounds or notes. The term is derived from the Italian word "staccare," which means "to detach" or "to separate."
In music, staccato refers to a technique in which each note is played or sung with short, detached, and crisp duration. It involves playing or singing the notes in a short and precise manner, with a clear separation between them. This technique is typically marked by a dot placed above or below the note, indicating the desired staccato effect.
The staccato style can be applied to various instruments, including piano, string instruments, wind instruments, and vocals. It is commonly used in many different musical genres, such as classical, jazz, and even contemporary pop music.
The use of staccato allows for musical expression and articulation, adding emphasis and rhythmic interest to a piece of music. It adds a sense of excitement, playfulness, or tension depending on the context and musical composition.
In summary, staccato is a musical term that signifies a detached and concise style of playing or singing, characterized by distinct and sharply separated notes. It is an integral technique widely used across various musical genres to add rhythmic interest and expressiveness to a composition.
A musical term noting a series of notes separated from one another by a distinct interval; noting in medicine a form of speech, also called scanning speech, in which the words and syllables are separated by brief pauses.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
In music, with a short, distinct, halting sound on each note.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
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The word "staccato" has its origins in Italian music terminology. It derives from the Italian verb "staccare", which means "to detach" or "to separate". In music, staccato is used to denote a style of playing where notes are to be performed in a short, distinct, and detached manner. The term was first introduced in the 18th century and quickly became widely used in musical notation to indicate the specific execution of certain passages or phrases. From Italian, "staccato" has been adopted into many other languages as a technical term in music.