Ausdrucksvoll

As Printed on a Score

Printed above the staff over a phrase or line — in orchestral scores over the one part that should speak — often in parentheses or combined (“zart, aber ausdrucksvoll”, “sehr ausdrucksvoll”). Bilingual editions print espressivo beside it. It lasts for the phrase or until another character word.

How Composers Use It

The German espressivo: shape the line with dynamic nuance, vibrato and flexible timing so that it speaks. In German scores it is usually local, marking the voice that matters in a texture, which makes it a tool of balance as well as expression. Qualify it (zart, aber ausdrucksvoll) to keep a soft line soft; on its own, players tend to swell.

Example

Mahler, Kindertotenlieder, “Nun will die Sonn’ so hell aufgeh’n!”, piano, m. 15: “ausdrucksvoll” printed beside “espressivo”.

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