Vibrato

As Printed on a Score

Rarely printed, because modern string players and singers use it by default. The word appears when a composer wants more of it or wants it back — “vibrato”, “molto vibrato” — often cancelling an earlier “non vib.” or “senza vibrato”. Liszt’s piano “vibrato assai” is figurative, asking for a ringing tone. On a staff label, “Vib.” means vibraphone.

Abbreviations: vib.

How Composers Use It

Vibrato is the default for modern string and vocal performance. Composers can specify "senza vibrato" (without vibrato) for a purer, more austere sound — useful for early music, ethereal effects, or stark emotional contrast. Wide vibrato = warm and emotional; narrow/no vibrato = cold and objective.

Example

Mahler, Symphony No. 5, fourth movement (Adagietto), first violins, m. 86: “vibrato” printed at pp near the end of the movement — an explicit request in a movement for strings and harp alone.

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