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tremolo

a rapid, trembling repetition of a single note or wavering of pitch

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Where does the word "tremolo" come from? It comes from Italian tremolo, and was adopted directly into English (1800s).

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Where does the word "tremolo" come from? It comes from Italian tremolo, and was adopted directly into English (1800s).

Tremolo’s story begins in Italian: tremolo meant “trembling.” From tremare (to tremble), a rapid repetition or trembling effect. It reached English by 1800s as tremolo. Italian 'trembling'; Monteverdi used string tremolo in 1624. Today, tremolo means a rapid, trembling repetition of a single note or wavering of pitch.

  1. Stage 1 · Italian · 1700s tremolo "trembling", from tremare (to tremble), a rapid repetition or trembling effect.
  2. Stage 2 · English · 1800s tremolo "a rapid trembling or wavering musical effect", Italian 'trembling'; Monteverdi used string tremolo in 1624.

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