Definition

1. Noun:

   • A rapid, continuous slide through a series of musical notes: A glissando is a musical effect where the performer slides smoothly and quickly from one pitch to another, playing all the intervening notes. It is common on instruments like the piano, harp, trombone, and violin.

2. Adverb:

   • In the manner of a glissando; to be performed with a slide: Used as a musical direction to indicate that a passage should be played with a rapid, sweeping slide between notes.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • The pianist ended the piece with a dramatic glissando up the keyboard.
  • You can hear a glissando in the trombone part at the beginning of the song.

• Adverb:

  • The composer marked the phrase "glissando" above the notes.
  • This scale should be played glissando for a sweeping effect.

Advanced Usage

• Glissando as a technique: The execution of a glissando varies by instrument. On a piano, it is often played by sliding the back of a finger or thumb across the white or black keys. On a string instrument, it is achieved by sliding a finger along the string without changing fingers.
• Portamento vs. Glissando: In precise musical terminology, a portamento is a smooth, continuous pitch change (like in singing or on a fretless string instrument), often emphasizing the slide itself. A glissando typically implies a rapid slide through the discrete notes of a scale.

Variants and Related Words

• Glissandi (n): The plural form of glissando.
  • The score is full of rapid glissandi.

Synonyms

• Slide (n): A general term for moving smoothly from one note to another.
• Sweep (n): Sometimes used informally to describe a fast glissando, especially on harp or piano.

Related Phrases and Idioms

• To execute a glissando: The formal phrase for performing the technique.
  • The violinist executed a perfect glissando from the low note to the high harmonic.

Adverb

1. (musical direction) in the manner of a glissando (with a rapidly executed series of notes)
   • this should be played glissando, please

Noun

1. a rapid series of ascending or descending notes on the musical scale