Espressivo

What it means

Espressivo, abbreviated espr., is an Italian performance direction meaning “expressively.” It asks for the music to be shaped with particular involvement: the notes should not be played or sung neutrally but with fine variations in volume, tempo, and tone color.

Musical use

The marking appears in instrumental and vocal music from the 18th century onward and is set especially often in the Romantic period, frequently at lyrical passages or at a melodic peak. It fixes neither tempo nor volume but describes an attitude of delivery, shown in small dynamic waves and slightly flexible timing.

Espressivo should be distinguished from dolce, which asks for a soft, sweet sound, and from cantabile, which primarily means the singing flow of the melody. Espressivo instead stresses emotional expression and can also turn out passionate or austere. It is closely related to the phrase “con espressione.”

Performance practice

At espressivo, shape the melody in arcs: let rising motion swell slightly and falling motion die away, and use vibrato finely and deliberately. Avoid exaggeration; the expression should arise from the music itself and not seem applied from outside.