Which term means 'broken down, crushed; the sounding of notes not quite simultaneously'?

Study for the Praxis Music Content and Instruction (5114) Test. Prepare with multiple choice questions and materials, complete with explanations and clarifications. Master the content and excel in your exam!

Multiple Choice

Which term means 'broken down, crushed; the sounding of notes not quite simultaneously'?

Explanation:
Acciaccato describes notes played in a crushed, quick fashion where the tones are almost together but not exactly simultaneous. The idea is a sudden, percussive bite—like the notes break slightly as they sound, producing a briefly separated, yet connected effect. The term comes from Italian acciaccare, meaning to crush, which captures this exact feel. This is distinct from other terms: Agnus Dei is a liturgical text, not a performance marking, and the other options aren’t standard Italian musical terms for articulation, so they don’t convey the crushed, not-quite-simultaneous sound described.

Acciaccato describes notes played in a crushed, quick fashion where the tones are almost together but not exactly simultaneous. The idea is a sudden, percussive bite—like the notes break slightly as they sound, producing a briefly separated, yet connected effect. The term comes from Italian acciaccare, meaning to crush, which captures this exact feel.

This is distinct from other terms: Agnus Dei is a liturgical text, not a performance marking, and the other options aren’t standard Italian musical terms for articulation, so they don’t convey the crushed, not-quite-simultaneous sound described.

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