What does volante mean?
Volante is an uncommon English word borrowed from Italian, where it means “flying” or “gliding.” In musical notation and performance language, it instructs musicians to play with a light, rapid, floating character, often suggesting the motion of birds or an effortless sweep through a passage. It is consequently more specific than simply fast: the phrasing should also sound agile, buoyant, and free rather than heavy or mechanically accelerated. The term may modify a movement, passage, or style, as in “volante figures,” and can also appear in comparative Italian directions such as più volante, meaning “more flightlike.” Outside discussions of music, volante can retain the broader sense of flying or airborne, though this use is rare in modern English. For performers, the word’s usefulness lies in combining an indication of speed with an expressive quality: not merely quick, but light and freely moving.
Light, rapid, and gliding in movement, especially as a direction to performers in music.
"The flute carried the closing phrase in a swift, volante line."
Chiefly used as an Italian or Italian-derived musical direction and usually written in italics.
Flying or moving through the air.
"The report described the fish as a small, silvery, volatile creature."
This general sense is rare in present-day English and is most often encountered in literary or specialized contexts.
Volante literally means “flying”: in music, it asks performers to give a phrase the airy momentum of a bird in flight.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of volante
English volante was borrowed from Italian volante, the present participle of volare, “to fly.” Italian volante in turn derives from Latin volare, “to fly,” cognate with English volatile and with forms such as volant, which preserves the same idea of flight. The musical sense developed from the word’s literal association with airborne, gliding movement.
How volante is actually used
The word is uncommon outside musical contexts, where it is normally encountered in scores, rehearsal directions, and discussions of tempo and articulation. It is usually italicized when used independently.
Easily confused with volante
Volante is an Italian musical direction meaning light and rapid, whereas violent means forceful, extreme, or intensely energetic.