Sognando
Definition. Dreamily — playing with dreamy, reverie-like, atmospheric character.
Detailed Explanation
Sognando is Italian for ‘dreaming’. As a performance direction it instructs the performer to play with dreamy, reverie-like, atmospheric character. The music should feel as if it were taking place in a dream — soft, suspended, slightly out of focus.
The character is suspended and atmospheric. Sognando passages typically feature slow or moderate tempos, soft dynamics, sustained tone, and a sense of harmonic fluidity. Phrasing should breathe gently; rubato should add a sense of timeless suspension.
The direction is most common in late Romantic and Impressionist music. Debussy and Ravel use sognando-like character throughout; Schumann marks dreamy passages of his piano works (the Träumerei of Kinderszenen is the dreamy archetype). The mark calls for a particular quality of atmospheric, reverie-like playing.
Etymology
Italian, gerund of sognare (‘to dream’), from Latin somnium (‘dream’).
In Practice
Suspend the music. Slow phrasing, sustained tone, soft dynamics. Avoid any hint of urgency or grounded reality; the music should feel dreamlike.
Notable Examples
- Schumann — Träumerei (sognando archetype)
- Debussy — Rêverie (sognando character throughout)
Related Terms
Opposite Of
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Sognando mean in music?
Dreamily — playing with dreamy, reverie-like, atmospheric character.
Where does the word Sognando come from?
Italian, gerund of sognare (‘to dream’), from Latin somnium (‘dream’).
How is Sognando performed in practice?
Suspend the music. Slow phrasing, sustained tone, soft dynamics. Avoid any hint of urgency or grounded reality; the music should feel dreamlike.
What musical terms are related to Sognando?
Related terms include: Dolce, Tranquillo, Espressivo, Misterioso.
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