Definition

Adverb: A musical term of Italian origin used as a direction to modify another musical term, meaning "very" or "much." It indicates that the quality described by the primary term should be performed to a high degree.

Usage

• Modifying Tempo Markings: "Molto" is most commonly placed before a tempo marking (e.g., allegro, adagio) to intensify it.
  • Example: The movement is marked molto allegro, so it should be played very fast and lively.
• Modifying Expression Markings: It can also precede expression markings (e.g., crescendo, espressivo) to amplify their effect.
  • Example: The composer asks for a molto crescendo here, meaning the volume should increase very much.

Examples

• molto vivace: very lively and fast.
• molto ritardando: slowing down very much.
• molto espressivo: with very much expression.
• andante molto: a walking pace, but very much so (often implying a tempo at the faster end of the andante range).

Advanced Usage

• Standalone Use: In some modern or informal musical contexts, "molto" might be used alone as an emphatic instruction, understood from the surrounding musical phrasing (e.g., a note marked "molto" might imply "with much emphasis").
• Combined with "non troppo": While "molto" means "very," it is often contrasted with the phrase "non troppo" (not too much). A composer might write "allegro ma non troppo" (fast, but not too much) versus "allegro molto" (very fast).

Variants and Related Words

• -issimo/-issima: An Italian suffix with a similar intensive meaning ("very" or "extremely"). It is attached directly to the end of an adjective (e.g., allegrissimo for "very fast," pianissimo for "very soft"). "Molto" is a separate modifying word, while "-issimo" is a suffix.

Synonyms

• Assai: Another Italian musical term meaning "very" or "considerably," often used interchangeably with "molto" (e.g., allegro assai).
• Very: The direct English translation and synonym in a musical context.

Antonyms

• Poco: An Italian musical term meaning "a little" or "slightly," used to moderate a direction (e.g., poco ritardando - slow down a little).
• Non troppo: Meaning "not too much," used to restrain a direction (e.g., allegro non troppo - fast, but not too much).

Adverb

1. much
   • allegro molto