What does sotto voce mean in music?

sotto voce means "in an undertone, subdued".

What type of musical term is sotto voce?

sotto voce is a dynamics term — see the Theory Practice glossary for the rest of the dynamics word list.

What grade is sotto voce tested in?

sotto voce first appears at Grade 5 in ABRSM, AMEB and Trinity music theory exams, and stays in the syllabus for every grade above that.

Music theory · Musical terms · Dynamics

sotto voce — meaning in music

sotto voce is a musical term meaning in an undertone, subdued. It is a dynamics marking, first tested at Grade 5 in ABRSM, AMEB and Trinity music theory exams. From that grade on, every written paper expects you to know it on sight.

Definition

in an undertone, subdued

DynamicsFirst tested: Grade 5

Translations

French	à voix basse, tamisée
German	in einem Unterton, gedämpft
Italian	sottovoce, sommesso
Spanish	en voz baja, tenue
Chinese	低沉的，柔和的

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All dynamics terms

calando crescendo decrescendo diminuendo forte fortissimo mezza voce mezzo mezzo forte mezzo piano morendo perdendosi pianissimo piano sforzando smorzando sotto voce