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gruppetto

gruppetto

9.9
A short group of quick notes played around a main note to decorate a melody
  • noun
  • /ɡruˈpɛtoʊ/
  • Specialized
translation icon : gruppetto
  • The conductor emphasized the importance of the gruppetto to add flair to the main melody.

Examples

  • In the final measures of the piece, the pianist played a quick gruppetto that delighted the audience.

  • Playing in perfect time, he constructs a line from a series of meticulously dotted eighth and sixteenth notes, throwing in an occasional gruppetto, a la Lester Young to become:

    Fiction book (2002)
  • The violinist added a beautiful gruppetto to the end of her solo, showcasing her skill.

Antonyms

Making something less complicated so it is easier to understand

Surface Forms

gruppetto singular
gruppetti plural

Etymology

Gruppetto comes from Italian gruppo ('group') plus the small ending -etto ('little'), so it literally means 'little group'. In music a gruppetto is a small set of quick notes played around one main note to decorate the tune, which is why it has that name.