Valottava

Valottava is a term found in some Italian-language music editions that designates an instruction to transpose the sounding pitch by an octave relative to the written notes. In practice, it serves a function similar to the more widely used ottava markings (ottava alta, ottava bassa, or 8va/8vb), but it appears in certain historical or editorial contexts as an alternative label for octave transposition.

Notationally, valottava is usually indicated above or below the staff and may be accompanied by a dashed line extending over the affected passage to show its scope. The instruction can apply to a single passage or to a broader section and remains in effect until explicitly canceled or altered. Because valottava is not standardized, editors may vary in how it is marked (for example, abbreviated as val., or written in full as valottava) and where it is placed on the score.

Relationship to other octave indications is direct but with editorial nuance. While 8va/8vb have become the dominant conventions in modern notation, valottava persists in some editions and historical prints, reflecting regional practices or publishers’ preferences from earlier music typography. Modern editors generally substitute the standard ottava signs for clarity, but valottava can appear in scores that aim to reproduce historical notation accurately.

See also: ottava, 8va, 8vb, ottava alta, ottava bassa, quindicesima (15ma).