concerto Italian · revision 39275

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=1555|origins=la certō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /konˈt͡ʃɛr.to/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''concerto''' ''m'' (plural concerti)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a deverbal noun of [[concertare|t=to arrange together; to harmonize]].^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Wiktionary) That verb is [[bor|la|concertō|t=to contend, dispute]], formed from [[m|la|cum|t=with]] and [[m|la|certō|t=to contend]], the intensive of [[m|la|cernō|t=to separate, decide]].^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010) In Latin the verb already meant “to plot, arrange”, and DEI notes the sense “to work in agreement” in the Old Latin Bible, the Itala.^(Nocentini 2010)^(DEI|1044) DELI mentions another view, by Robert A. Hall, that the Italian verb was formed from [[certo|t=certain]].^(DELI 1999)

+

+ In the 19th century Tommaseo's collaborator Rossi rejected the derivations from [[la|concinō|t=to sing together]] and, from [[m|la|cōnserō|t=to join]], and explained the musical word by the contest between the parts of a polyphonic piece.^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The sense “agreement, pact” is first recorded in Annibal Caro, before 1566.^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003) DIFIT, following the music lexicon LESMU, has a musical sense earlier, in 1555: a performance of music in several parts, vocal or instrumental.^(DIFIT)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ G. B. Marino uses the word in 1623 for music in which several voices or instruments sing or play together, and DIFIT dates the sense “a group of singers or players” to 1624.^(DELI 1999)^(DIFIT) The modern sense “a musical performance by several singers or players” is recorded in 1794, and the composition for soloist and orchestra in 1800.^(DELI 1999)^(DIFIT) The old sense “agreement” lasted into the 19th century: Manzoni has “Con lui prenderò i concerti opportuni” (“with him I will make the proper arrangements”), and it survives in the phrase ''di concerto'', “in agreement”.^(GRADIT 2003)^(GDLI|3)^(Zingarelli 2010)

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+ The Italian word went abroad with Italian music.^(DIFIT) French borrowed it as ''concert'' (1560 “agreement”, 1608 a group of singers or players), and again as ''concerto'' (1739) for the composition;^(DIFIT)^(Nocentini 2010) Spanish ''concierto'' first meant “meeting”.^(DIFIT)^(Nocentini 2010) English has ''concerto'' from 1730 and ''concerto grosso'' from 1724, while its ''concert'' came from French, and German had ''Konzert'' by 1619.^(DIFIT)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1555 – First musical use, for a performance in several parts.^(DIFIT)

+ * Before 1566 – Annibal Caro uses ''concerto'' for an agreement.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1560 – French ''concert'' is recorded.^(DIFIT)

+ * 1619 – German ''Konzert'' is recorded.^(DIFIT)

+ * 1623 – Marino uses it for music by several voices or instruments together.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1724 – English ''concerto grosso'' is recorded.^(DIFIT)

+ * 1730 – English ''concerto'' is recorded.^(DIFIT)

+ * 1794 – The sense “a musical performance” is recorded.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1800 – The sense “a composition for soloist and orchestra” is recorded.^(DIFIT)

+ * 1831 – ''Concertista'' appears in the Milanese press.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(music)'' A [[m|en|concert]]: a public performance of music: ''Sabato andiamo al concerto di un gruppo jazz.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # ''(music)'' A [[m|en|concerto]]: a composition in several movements for one or more soloists and orchestra: ''un concerto per pianoforte''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # ''(music, historical)'' In the 17th and 18th centuries, a polyphonic composition.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # A group of singers or players performing together.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # ''(by extension, often humorous)'' A mass of sounds or voices: ''un concerto di grilli''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # ''(literary)'' Agreement, understanding.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # ''(bureaucratic)'' Cooperation between public bodies on a common matter.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[concertista]]

+ * [[concertino]]

+ * [[concertismo]]

+ * [[concertistico]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[concertare]]

+ * [[sconcertare]]

+ * [[sconcerto]]

+ * [[fr|concert]]

+ * [[en|concerto]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Di concerto'' means “in agreement, jointly”.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010) ''In concerto'', said of a singer or band performing live, is modelled on English ''in concert''.^(Treccani 2011) ''Concerto grosso'' is a composition in which a small group of soloists alternates with the full string orchestra.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}