A musical direction meaning to play with increasing animation, energy, or liveliness.
Italian word meaning 'becoming animated' or 'with animation,' from Latin animare (to give soul or life to). Adopted directly into musical terminology from Italian, the traditional language of musical instructions since the Renaissance.
Musical terminology borrowed from Italian is so embedded in English that musicians rarely think of words like 'animando,' 'allegro,' and 'forte' as foreign—they're part of a universal language that transcends national borders, allowing musicians worldwide to communicate nuanced artistic intentions.
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