Introduzione

As Printed on a Score

Printed as the heading of a preparatory opening section or movement, usually with a slow tempo word, and sometimes joined to what follows by attacca. It covers the introduction up to the next heading or tempo.

How Composers Use It

An introduction sets mood and expectation before the main body; in Classical style it is usually slow, harmonically searching and ends on the dominant. Beethoven turns the Waldstein Sonata’s slow movement into an Introduzione that leads straight into the Rondo, so the label also signals music that is not self-contained. Keep it in proportion to what it introduces.

Example

Beethoven, Piano Sonata No. 21 in C major, Op. 53 (“Waldstein”), second movement, m. 1: “INTRODUZIONE” with “Adagio molto” at pp; at m. 28 it ends “Attacca subito il Rondo:”.

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