cantabile in music meaning | TheMusicDictionary

Meaning of Cantabile in Music

In music, **cantabile** is an Italian word that means "singable" or "songlike". It is a term used to describe a particular style of playing that is designed to imitate the human voice. Cantabile is often synonymous with "cantando," which means singing, and it indicates a measured tempo and flexible, legato playing. The term first started to appear in music in the early 18th century and was initially translated as legato performance, although tempo was measured. Later on, it came to indicate that the performer should draw out one line of music with expression, flexibility, and an overall sense of naturalness. The goal is to convey as much humanness and drama through the line as possible, even if the music is not intended for the voice.

Cantabile can appear in music in two major ways. First, it can be paired with a tempo marking at the beginning of the score or individual part, such as "largo cantabile." In this case, it indicates that the performer should take a singing approach at a specific speed to the entire work or at least to the first section of the music until another performance direction appears. Second, it can also show up in specific sections of a piece, where the performer is instructed to play in a singing style, drawing out the melody against the accompaniment.

Overall, cantabile is a musical term that signifies a lyrical, expressive, and singing style of playing, often used to imitate the human voice in instrumental music.