stretto: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Technical/Formal
Quick answer
What does “stretto” mean?
A musical passage, typically at the end of a fugue, in which the subject is repeated in overlapping entries at close intervals, creating a heightened sense of tension and climax.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A musical passage, typically at the end of a fugue, in which the subject is repeated in overlapping entries at close intervals, creating a heightened sense of tension and climax.
1) In music, a concluding section performed at a faster tempo. 2) More generally, a concluding or accelerated part of any composition or sequence. 3) Rarely, in a non-musical context, a situation of increasing pressure or urgency.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning or usage. Pronunciation may slightly vary (see IPA).
Connotations
Identical technical connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general language, confined almost exclusively to musical contexts in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “stretto” in a Sentence
The fugue concludes with a stretto.The subject is presented in stretto.Bach uses a stretto in the final section.Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used almost exclusively in musicology and analysis of Baroque counterpoint.
Everyday
Extremely unlikely to be encountered or used.
Technical
The primary context. Refers to a specific contrapuntal technique in fugue writing.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “stretto”
Strong
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “stretto”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “stretto”
- Misspelling as 'stretta' or 'streta'.
- Using it to mean simply 'a fast part' without the essential element of overlapping imitation.
- Pronouncing it /ˈstrɛtəʊ/ (as in 'street') instead of /ˈstrɛtəʊ/ (with a short 'e' as in 'dress').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Very rarely and only in highly stylised or figurative writing to describe any situation of converging, increasing pressure. In 99.9% of cases, it is a musical term.
No. A coda is a general concluding section. A stretto is a specific contrapuntal technique of overlapping entries, often used within a coda or final section of a fugue.
Pronounce it as /ˈstrɛtəʊ/ (UK) or /ˈstrɛtoʊ/ (US). The stress is on the first syllable, and the 'e' is a short vowel as in 'dress' or 'met'.
The initial exposition, where the subject and answer are presented clearly and separately without overlapping. A loose or free episodic section could also be considered opposite in texture.
A musical passage, typically at the end of a fugue, in which the subject is repeated in overlapping entries at close intervals, creating a heightened sense of tension and climax.
Stretto is usually technical/formal in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms exist for this highly technical term]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a street ("stret") where the traffic is so close together ("-tto") that the cars are overlapping — this mirrors the overlapping musical lines in a stretto.
Conceptual Metaphor
CONFLUENCE IS TENSION (The converging of musical lines creates a climactic pressure).
Practice
Quiz
In which musical form is the term 'stretto' most precisely and correctly used?