Air (Dublinesque), Op. 10

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Musical Terms (4)

• bel canto Italian
  Literally 'beautiful singing'; a style of vocal melody originating in 18th and 19th century Italian opera characterised by long, flowing, ornamented lines and smooth legato phrasing. Applied to piano writing, it demands a sustained cantabile tone that imitates the human voice.
  Shape each melodic phrase as a singer would — with a clear breath point at phrase endings, a natural dynamic arch toward the peak of the phrase, and legato connection between notes even in large intervals. Avoid percussive attacks on melody notes.
• reverie French
  A character piece evoking a state of dreamy meditation or pleasant abstraction; a mood piece without strict formal requirements, typically flowing and improvisatory in character.
  Let the phrasing follow the harmonic rhythm rather than the barline. Subtle use of rubato and a gentle, singing tone support the introspective mood; avoid metronomic strictness.
• soliloquy English
  A musical monologue — a piece in which the piano speaks as a single contemplative voice, exploring one emotional state at length without contrasting sections or traditional development.
  Treat the melodic line as a voice speaking to itself. Allow long phrases to breathe without rushing; the sense of introspection depends on unhurried pacing and careful voicing of the singing line above the accompaniment.
• tango Spanish
  A dance form originating in the Río de la Plata region of Argentina and Uruguay, characterised by sharp rhythmic accentuation, habanera-derived bass patterns, and dramatic contrasts between sustained lyrical passages and syncopated rhythmic sections.
  In passages marked by tango rhythm, emphasise the characteristic dotted or syncopated bass figure with a crisp, weighted touch. Contrast this rhythmic energy with an expressive upper melody that can be played with some rubato.