A musical direction indicating that a passage should be played with expression, feeling, and emotional intensity. The performer should emphasize the melodic line and bring out the musical character of the piece.
From Italian 'espressivo' meaning 'expressive,' derived from Latin 'expressus' (past participle of 'exprimere' meaning 'to press out, express'). The term entered musical vocabulary in the 18th century as composers sought more specific ways to communicate emotional intent to performers.
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