appassiono

Appassiono is a term occasionally found in musical scores or editions as a directive intended to convey passionate expressiveness in performance. Unlike the well-established appassionato marking, appassiono is not part of standard music terminology and is encountered only sporadically, mainly in modern, experimental, or edited editions.

Etymology and usage history are unclear, but the word appears to derive from Italian roots related to passion and from the adjective appassionato. In practice, it is often treated as a variant or a creative impulse rather than a codified instruction. Some publishers or editors may include it as a stylistic cue, while others consider it a misprint or an idiosyncratic choice of a contemporary composer.

Interpretation of appassiono generally parallels the intent of appassionato: to perform with strong emotion, heightened intensity, and expressive phrasing. Because there is no formal definition, performers rely on musical context, tempo, dynamics, and character to shape the effect. When encountered in a score, it is common for editors to provide a note equating it to appassionato or to request clarification from the composer.

Overall, appassiono is a rare and nonstandard marking whose meaning is largely determined by the specific edition and context. It is most likely to appear in contemporary works rather than in the traditional classical repertoire. In standard repertoires, appassionato remains the conventional directive.