Pianto

In music, the pianto (en:crying) is the motif of a descending minor second, has represented laments and been associated textually with weeping, sighing (called the Mannheim sigh by Hugo Riemann); or pain, grief, etc.; since the 16th century.[1] For example the passus duriusculus.[1] "It was present equally in vocal and instrumental music."[1]

  1. ^ a b c Monelle, Raymond (2000). The Sense of Music: Semiotic Essays, p.17. ISBN 978-0-691-05716-3.