The Italian Language

Learn about the Italian language, grammar, vocabulary and culture

Updated 14 November 2009

Instruments and Performers

Many musical instruments were either invented or developed in Italy, while the singers have drawn almost all their vocabulary from Italian.

Italian	English
soprano	The highest female register.
sopranino	Used for very high pitched instruments, like the sopranino saxophone or the sopranino recorder
contralto alto	the lowest female register. alto is an abbreviation of contralto.
alto	a boy’s register.
basso	bass
basso profondo	deep bass
basso buffo	comic bass
castrato	Castrated. An male register no longer in use: A boy with a fine voice would be castrated to avoid his voice changing
piano pianoforte fortepiano	literally soft. An shortened form of clavicembalo con piano e forte. In italy the piano always called pianoforte.
viola	Viola
violoncello	literally small violone. a violone being a large viola.
viola da braccio	A viola which is rested on the arm (braccio) to be played
viola da gamba	A viola which is rested on the leg (gamba) to be played
violino	literally small viola
timpani	Plural of timpano/kettledrum
ripieno	filling: the full orchestra in a concerto grosso
concertino	a small concerto. Also the solo group in a concerto grosso
divisi	from dividere/to divide (strings)
scordatura	From scordare/to mistune. Tuning a string instrument using unusual intervals
viola d’amore	love viola. A type of string instrument.
oboe d’amore	love oboe. A type of wind instrument.
piccolo	Shortened form of piccolo flauto/small flute. The higher register flute.
basso continuo	continuous bass
Trombone	Literally large trumpet.
virtuoso	Virtuous. a performer of great technical capacity
bravura	competence, with skill. Almost the same as virtuosity.
bravo!	Very good!
bel canto	beautiful singing
maestro	master. Used for middle aged or older conductors and famous musicians
prima donna	first woman. The principal female role in an opera
primo uomo	first man. The principal male role in an opera
prima ballerina	first female dancer. The principal male role in a ballet
primo ballerino	first male dancer. The principal male role in an ballet