How Do You Spell DA CAPO?

Pronunciation: [dˈɑː kˈɑːpə͡ʊ] (IPA)

"Dah Kah-poh" (IPA: /dɑ ˈkɑpo/) is a musical term of Italian origin that means "from the beginning." It is often abbreviated as "D.C." and is used in sheet music to indicate a return to the beginning of a piece. The spelling of "Da capo" is derived from the Italian language, where "da" means "from" and "capo" means "head." In English, the word is pronounced with emphasis on the first syllable, "dah," followed by a smooth "kah-poh" sound.

Meaning and Definition
Common Misspellings
Etymology
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DA CAPO Meaning and Definition

  1. Da capo is an Italian musical term that translates to "from the beginning" or "from the head." It is widely used in classical music to indicate a specific type of musical repetition or structure. When a composition or a section within a composition is marked with da capo, it means that the performer should return to the beginning and play the music again, usually starting from the initial point of performance.

    The da capo indication is often accompanied by the abbreviation D.C. or D.C. al fine, meaning "da capo to the end." This indicates that after repeating the music from the beginning, the performer should play until reaching the word "fine" (meaning "end" in Italian) before stopping. This structure is commonly employed in musical forms such as the aria in operas or solo instrumental pieces.

    The da capo instruction allows for variations in the repeated section, offering the performer the freedom to improvise or embellish the music during each repetition. This practice adds ornamentation or variations to the composition, allowing for a more personalized and expressive rendition.

    In more modern music notation, da capo is sometimes replaced with the symbol "C" with a horizontal line drawn through it, itself derived from the initial letter of capo. This symbol has become a popular shorthand used in contemporary sheet music.

    Overall, "da capo" refers to the repetition of a musical section from the beginning, often enhancing the performance with improvisation or ornamentation, and it is a term frequently encountered in classical music notation.

  2. In music, a direction to return to, and end with, the first strain.

    Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.

Common Misspellings for DA CAPO

  • dacappo
  • dacap
  • dacapo
  • da cap
  • sa capo
  • xa capo
  • ca capo
  • fa capo
  • ra capo
  • ea capo
  • dz capo
  • ds capo
  • dw capo
  • dq capo
  • da xapo
  • da vapo
  • da fapo
  • da czpo
  • da cspo
  • da cwpo

Etymology of DA CAPO

The word "Da Capo" is an Italian phrase with its roots in music terminology. "Da Capo" literally translates to "from the beginning" in English.

The etymology of the phrase can be traced back to the Baroque period of music (approximately 1600-1750). During this time, composers often wrote pieces with a specific structure, known as the da capo aria. This structure consisted of three sections labeled as A, B, and C. The A section, also called the "prima volta", served as the main theme or melody of the piece. The B section, also known as the "seconda volta", introduced new material or variations. The C section, often called the "da capo", signaled a return to the initial A section.

Similar spelling words for DA CAPO

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Correct spelling for Da Capo
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