Word
acciaccatura
Phoneticsac·ciac·catu·ra
Definition
n. a small note played very quickly before a main note. It is used in music to add a short, sharp sound to the main melody.
n. a grace note that is played simultaneously with the main note or immediately before it, typically in a rapid, percussive manner. Often used in Baroque and classical music to ornament a melody.
Examples
“The pianist added an acciaccatura to the first note of the melody.”
“In the original score, the composer indicates an acciaccatura on the second beat to create a more dramatic entrance for the theme.”
“While the appoggiatura is held for a portion of the main note's duration, the acciaccatura is executed as a brief, detached strike that does not displace the primary rhythmic value.”
Examples
simple
“The pianist added an acciaccatura to the first note of the melody.”
contextual
“In the original score, the composer indicates an acciaccatura on the second beat to create a more dramatic entrance for the theme.”
complex
“While the appoggiatura is held for a portion of the main note's duration, the acciaccatura is executed as a brief, detached strike that does not displace the primary rhythmic value.”
Etymology
Borrowed from Italian acciaccatura, from the verb acciaccare (“to crush”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/acciaccatura