Mus. In 8 tremola; also 9 tremulo. [It. tremolo adj. trembling, shaking, quavering:—L. tremul-us TREMULOUS.]
1. A tremulous or vibrating effect produced on certain musical instruments or in the human voice in singing, esp. to express intensity of emotion: cf. VIBRATO.
[1724. Short Explic. For. Wds in Mus. Bks., Tremola, to Tremble, a particular Grace in Musick.]
1801. Busby, Dict. Mus., Tremolo, Tremolante, or Tremente, a word intimating that the notes are to be drawn out with a tremulous motion.
1865. Miss Braddon, Sir Jasper, xvii. The trickling arpeggios and treble tremulos of a modern nocturne were all-sufficient.
1884. H. C. Deacon, in Grove, Dict. Mus., IV. 166/2. The instrumental tremolo is more nearly allied to the vocal vibrato. Indeed, what is called ‘vibrato’ on bowed instruments is what would be ‘tremolo’ in vocal music.
attrib. 1896. Godey’s Mag., Feb., 195/1. Some cheap melodramatic stuff with tremolo shudders in the orchestra.
b. transf. and fig.
1877. Lockhart, Mine is Thine, xviii. Her back still turned and a tremolo in her voice.
1897. Daily News, 23 Nov., 6/2. He [a writer] executes so many tremolos and elaborate modulations on his theme.
2. A mechanical contriyance in an organ by which such an effect is produced; a tremulant. Also tremolo stop.
1867. Aug. J. E. Wilson, Vashti, xi. The … overwhelming pathos of the tones affected Dr. Grey much as the tremolo stop in some organ-overture in a dimly-lighted cathedral.
1869. M. J. Matthews, in Eng. Mech., 31 Dec., 385/3. A sixth is the ‘tremolo,’ the least valuable of the lot.
