Triste

As Printed on a Score

Printed above the staff, often in a heading with a tempo — Lent et triste — or paired with another character word (triste et monotone). It sets the mood of the passage until the next character or tempo word; the adverb tristement also appears.

How Composers Use It

Triste asks for sadness without drama: a subdued tone, little brilliance, phrases that sink rather than surge. It is quieter in feeling than douloureux, which hurts. Debussy pairs it with lent to set a whole song’s colour and with monotone to forbid expressive swelling. Let the harmony and register do the grieving; the word tells performers not to fight them.

Example

Debussy, Ariettes oubliées, “L’ombre des arbres”, voice, m. 1: “Lent et triste” heads the song.

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