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all' ottava: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

Low
UK/ˌæl ɒˈtɑːvə/US/ˌæl ɑːˈtɑvə/

Technical (Music)

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Quick answer

What does “all' ottava” mean?

A musical instruction indicating that the written notes should be performed one octave higher (or lower if marked 'bassa').

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Pronunciation

Definition

Meaning and Definition

A musical instruction indicating that the written notes should be performed one octave higher (or lower if marked 'bassa').

A directive found in sheet music, often abbreviated '8va', to avoid excessive ledger lines. Can also be used for brief passages of octave transposition.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

No lexical or orthographic difference; usage is identical in both British and American musical contexts.

Connotations

Purely technical; carries no regional connotative differences.

Frequency

Equally low-frequency and specialised in both regional contexts.

Grammar

How to Use “all' ottava” in a Sentence

[Music] is played all' ottava[Performer] takes the melody all' ottava

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong
Played all' ottavaWritten all' ottavaall' ottava bassa
medium
Marked all' ottavaThe phrase all' ottavaAn all' ottava passage
weak
Occasional all' ottavaAbove the all' ottava lineDirective all' ottava

Examples

Examples of “all' ottava” in a Sentence

verb

British English

  • This line should be rendered all' ottava.
  • The pianist all' ottava'd the right-hand part.

American English

  • The composer wants you to read this all' ottava.
  • He all' ottava-ed the passage for clarity.

adverb

British English

  • Play this phrase all' ottava.
  • The flute part soars all' ottava.

American English

  • The violins go all' ottava here.
  • The soloist performed the cadenza all' ottava.

adjective

British English

  • The all' ottava marking is clear.
  • An all' ottava section can be tricky to read.

American English

  • Look for the all' ottava sign.
  • The all' ottava notation saved space.

Usage

Meaning in Context

Business

Virtually never used.

Academic

Used exclusively in musicology and musical performance contexts.

Everyday

Not used in general conversation.

Technical

Standard, essential term in musical notation and performance.

Vocabulary

Synonyms of “all' ottava”

Strong

ottava alta

Neutral

8vaoctave transposition

Weak

up an octaveplayed an octave higher

Vocabulary

Antonyms of “all' ottava”

loco (indicating a return to the written pitch)

Watch out

Common Mistakes When Using “all' ottava”

  • Incorrect spacing: 'allottava' or 'all'ottava'.
  • Confusing '8va' (ottava) with '8vb' (ottava bassa).
  • Pronouncing 'ottava' with the English 'v' sound instead of Italian /v/.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Rarely, and only in discussions about music among musicians, conductors, or composers.

It is pronounced with an Italian /v/ sound, similar to the 'v' in 'very', not a 'w' sound. Stress the second syllable: o-TTA-va.

'Loco' (Italian for 'place') cancels an 'all' ottava' instruction, telling the performer to return to playing the notes at the pitch as written.

Yes, but it must be specified as 'all' ottava bassa' or marked with '8vb', which means 'at the octave below'.

A musical instruction indicating that the written notes should be performed one octave higher (or lower if marked 'bassa').

All' ottava is usually technical (music) in register.

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

  • “None”

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Think 'ALL at the OCTAVE' – 'all' in Italian becomes 'all'' before a vowel, and 'ottava' sounds like 'octave.'

Conceptual Metaphor

SPATIAL ELEVATION (higher pitch is 'up' an octave).

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap
The cello part was written an octave lower than it sounds; it was marked 'all' ottava '.
Multiple Choice

What is the primary function of an 'all' ottava' marking in a musical score?