Alberti bass
Italian era
Definition
A broken-chord accompaniment pattern common in Classical keyboard music, named after Domenico Alberti. The left hand alternates between the lowest note, highest note, and middle note of a chord in a repeated rhythmic figure. Woelfl uses Alberti bass pervasively throughout his piano sonatas.
Interpretive Guidance
Keep Alberti bass even, light, and strictly rhythmical. Avoid accent on any individual note. The pattern should create a harmonic pulse beneath the melody without drawing attention to itself.