Con espansione

As Printed on a Score

Printed beside the dynamic under a broad lyrical theme, often at the end of a string of directions, as in Tchaikovsky’s con sordini, teneramente, molto cantabile, con espansione. It governs the phrase or theme and lapses at the next character direction.

Also spelled: espansione

How Composers Use It

Con espansione asks the line to open out: broad, generous phrasing, room to breathe, a sense of the melody swelling beyond its notes. It implies flexibility — a little stretching at the peaks — rather than a slower tempo. Tchaikovsky uses it for the great second theme of the Pathétique’s first movement, together with teneramente and molto cantabile; it works best on long, arching melodies.

Example

Tchaikovsky, Symphony No. 6 (“Pathétique”), first movement, first violins, m. 89: “con sordini,teneramente, molto cantabile, con espansione” at p, in the bar marked “Andante”.

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