Colla sinistra

As Printed on a Score

Printed at a note or passage in piano music to have it taken with the left hand, usually where its position on the upper staff might suggest the right; it applies only to the marked notes.

How Composers Use It

Colla sinistra is the fuller Italian form of mano sinistra (m.s.); keep to one style per score. Mark it where the hand matters to the sound or the gesture — a left hand crossing over to take a treble note, an inner voice better voiced by the other hand — and leave ordinary distribution to the player.

Related Terms