portamento
Definition of the Italian term portamento in music:
- literally "carrying"
- portamento (continuous slide from one note to another without articulating the notes in between)
- portato (slightly detached notes, somewhere between legato and staccato)
Language
Italian
Singular
portamento
Plural
portamenti
Combinations
Italian musical terms that include portamento:
- molto portamento – literally "very carrying"...
- portamento di voce – literally "carrying the voice"...
- portamento e cantabile – slightly detached notes and singable (in a singing...
- portamento ma in tempo – slightly detached notes but in tempo
Musical examples
Music scores that include portamento:
- Johannes Brahms: Piano Trio No. 1 (1853‑1854) Page 4
- Sergey Prokofiev: Violin Sonata No. 1 (1938‑1946) Page 4
Related terms
Italian musical terms related to portamento: