What does glissandi mean?
Glissandi is the plural of glissando, a musical effect in which a performer slides continuously from one pitch to another. The effect is especially associated with instruments such as the piano, violin, trombone, harp, and guitar, where a single stroke or gesture can produce a sweeping range of notes. Glissandi may move upward or downward, and they can vary in speed, length, and intensity. In written music and performance notes, the singular form is glissando, while the plural is glissandi. The word is related to the Italian glissare, meaning “to slide,” and describes the gliding action both acoustically and physically. Although it is specialized in origin, glissandi is now familiar in discussions of instrumental technique, composition, orchestration, and musical performance.
nounThe plural of glissando: a musical passage in which a performer slides smoothly from one pitch to another, usually on a single instrument.
- Plural of glissando, referring to multiple musical slides or sliding passages.
"The violinist's dramatic glissandi brought the performance to a thrilling close."
"The pianist played long glissandi across the keys during the finale."
"The score calls for two rapid glissandi separated by a brief silence."
Glissandi is the standard plural of the musical term glissando.
"The piece ends with two dramatic glissandi."
A glissando turns a sequence of notes into one sweeping slide, and glissandi keeps the sweep plural.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does glissandi come from?
The word comes from Italian, where glissando is a musical term based on glissare, meaning “to slide.” It entered English as a name for the sliding effect used in instrumental music. Related forms include the French glissement and the English musical singular glissando, both reflecting the same idea of smooth movement.
How glissandi is actually used
Glissandi is chiefly a musical term and is more common in instrumental performance, especially in descriptions of classical, jazz, and popular music. The singular form is glissando, and both forms are usually italicized in formal writing.
Easily confused with glissandi
Glissando is the singular form, while glissandi is its plural.