Colla

/ˈkɒlə/ noun

Definition

In music, an Italian term meaning 'with the' that tells musicians to play in a particular style, often used in phrases like 'colla voce' (with the voice).

Etymology

From Italian 'colla,' a contraction of 'con la' meaning 'with the,' derived from Latin 'cum' (with) and the feminine article 'la' (the).

Kelly Says

The phrase 'colla voce' revolutionized instrumental music by allowing instruments to follow a singer's emotional phrasing rather than staying in strict time, creating more human-sounding accompaniment.

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