Espressione

As Printed on a Score

Printed only inside phrases (“con espressione”, “con gran espressione”, “con molto espressione”) above the staff or in a tempo heading such as Adagio con espressione; shortened forms like “con espress.” are common. It lasts until the next character word.

How Composers Use It

Con espressione asks for expressive playing in general: shaped dynamics, a singing tone, flexible phrasing. It asks the same as espressivo. Qualifiers (gran, molto) intensify it, and an adjective can specify the kind of feeling (con espressione dolorosa). On its own it is a broad request; when you know the feeling you want, a more specific word usually serves better.

Example

Chopin, Nocturne in C-sharp minor, B. 49 (published as No. 20), m. 1: “Lento con gran espressione”, the heading of the whole piece, marked p.

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