English Reference

Word

abruptio

Phoneticsabrup·tio

Definition

n. a sudden and unexpected change in a piece of music. It is a technical term for a sharp break in the flow or style of a song.

n. a sudden and unexpected change in a musical composition, often involving a sharp break in the melodic or rhythmic flow. Typically refers to a transition between two distinct musical styles or sections.

Examples

“The song features an abruptio between the soft verses and the loud chorus.”

“The composer used an abruptio to signal the shift from a somber, slow movement to a fast, energetic finale.”

“While the transition was intended to be a smooth modulation, the result was an abruptio that left the audience momentarily disoriented by the sudden shift in tonality.”

Examples

simple

“The song features an abruptio between the soft verses and the loud chorus.”

contextual

“The composer used an abruptio to signal the shift from a somber, slow movement to a fast, energetic finale.”

complex

“While the transition was intended to be a smooth modulation, the result was an abruptio that left the audience momentarily disoriented by the sudden shift in tonality.”

Domain

Music

This entry

Level
C2 · Proficiency
Frequency
Rare
Updated

Scan code

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English Reference