Durezza

/dyˈrɛtsə/ noun

Definition

An Italian musical term meaning hardness or harshness, indicating a passage should be performed with a harsh or rigid quality.

Etymology

From Italian duro meaning hard, with the feminine noun suffix -ezza (similar to Spanish -eza). The suffix directly transforms adjectives into abstract nouns describing qualities.

Kelly Says

Italian music notation is like a visual language—'durezza' on a sheet tells a musician to abandon smoothness and instead attack the notes with intensity, almost like the instrument itself is angry or determined.

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