tremolo
UK /ˈtrɛmələʊ/ · US /ˈtrɛməloʊ/ noun
Forms tremolos
- noun (music) A rapid repetition of the same note, or an alternation between two or more notes. It can also be intended to mean a rapid and repetitive variation in pitch for the duration of a note. It is notated by a strong diagonal bar across the note stem, or a detached bar for a set of notes (or stemless notes).
- noun (music) A variation in the volume of a note or a chord, evoking a tremor or quiver.
- noun (music) The device in an organ that produces a tremolo effect.
Etymology
Borrowed from Italian tremolo, first-person present indicative of tremolare (“to shake, to tremble”). Origin: 1715-25.
Webster’s 1913
Etymology [It. Cf. Tremulous.]
Sources: Wiktionary · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “tremolo”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details