Dolce espressivo

As Printed on a Score

Printed beside the dynamic, usually p, at the head of a lyrical line, in several forms: dolce espress., dolce ed espressivo, and the reversed espress. dolce. In orchestral scores it is written into each part that carries the melody. It holds for the phrase or section until the next character direction.

Abbreviations: dolce espress., dolce ed espress., espress. dolce

Also spelled: dolce ed espressivo

How Composers Use It

The pairing asks for sweetness with shaping: a soft, rounded tone (dolce) plus the dynamic and rhythmic nuance of espressivo. Brahms writes it often, into solo and obbligato lines as well as songs, and Fauré and Liszt use it at the start of tender sections. Which word comes first hardly matters to a player. Add a dynamic, and keep it for lines that should lead; on an accompaniment it upsets the balance.

Example

Brahms, “Geistliches Wiegenlied”, Op. 91 No. 2, viola, m. 33: “dolce espress.” in the obbligato viola part of a song headed “Andante con moto.”

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