stretto
/ˈstrɛtoʊ/
noun
- A musical passage, especially in a fugue, where the subject and answer overlap in quick succession, creating a sense of urgency or climax.
- The fugue ended with a dramatic stretto that brought all the voices together.
- In the final stretto, the melody entered before the previous phrase had finished.
- The composer used a stretto to build tension before the final chord.
adjective
- In music, played or sung in a faster tempo, often with overlapping entries.
- The choir sang the stretto passage with increasing energy.
- The pianist played the stretto part with quick, overlapping notes.
- The conductor marked the section 'stretto' to speed up the pace.
adverb
- In a manner that is faster or with overlapping entries, used as a musical direction.
- The fugue subject enters stretto, one voice chasing another.
- They performed the final section stretto, building to a powerful finish.
- The score instructed the musicians to play stretto from measure 45.