What does sordino mean?
A sordino is a small accessory placed on the bridge of a violin or another bowed string instrument to change the instrument's tone. Rather than simply making the instrument silent, it softens the sound and gives it a darker, more subdued character. A sordino is especially associated with restrained, mournful, or intimate passages in violin music, although composers use it for many expressive effects. The word can also refer more broadly to similar devices used with some related instruments. In ordinary discussion of violin playing, "attach a sordino," "remove the sordino," and "violin sordino" are established expressions. While "mute" is the broader English term, "sordino" specifically identifies the small device fitted near the bridge. The word comes from Italian and is now common in English musical terminology.
nounA small device fitted to the bridge of a violin or related bowed string instrument to soften and alter its tone, usually making it sound quieter and more subdued.
- A small mute attached to the bridge of a violin or another bowed string instrument to reduce its volume and give its tone a softer, darker, or more subdued quality.
"The violinist attached a sordino to the bridge before performing the lament."
"She played the passage with a sordino, giving the melody a muted, sorrowful character."
"The instruction called for the player to remove the sordino before the final section."
The plural is used when referring to several such devices or when naming the different types available.
"The shop stocks several strengths of sordini for violinists who want different degrees of muted tone."
A sordino takes a violin's voice away without silencing it, turning brightness into a shadow.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of sordino
The English word comes from Italian sordino, a diminutive form related to sordo, meaning "deaf" or "dull." These Italian forms ultimately relate to Latin sordidus, which conveyed meanings such as "dirty," "sordid," or "dull." In musical terminology, the sense developed from the idea of making a sound duller and less resonant.
How sordino is actually used
The term is chiefly associated with violin playing but can also refer to similar devices used with some other bowed string instruments. It is more precise than the general word "mute".
Easily confused with sordino
A mute is the general term for an accessory that changes a musical instrument's sound, while a sordino is specifically the small type commonly fitted to the bridge of a violin.