Lightly

As Printed on a Score

Printed as a character direction above the staff, sometimes in brackets, at the start of a passage, or joined to a tempo change (Lightly and rather quicker); it holds until a new character word. English editions also use it to translate leggiero.

How Composers Use It

The English leggiero: a quick, unweighted touch — short, crisp notes on piano or strings, a forward, unpressed delivery in song. It implies a soft-to-moderate dynamic and little accentuation, so check that your dynamics and articulation agree with it. In songs it tells the singer about delivery as well as tone.

Example

Delius, Four Old English Lyrics, “So White, so Soft, so Sweet is She”, voice, m. 1: “(lightly)” is printed beside the tempo “Allegretto”, an English word qualifying the Italian heading.

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