What does the term Senza indicate in musical directions?

• A. Without
• B. With
• C. Always
• D. Quietly

Answer: (A)

Senza indicates without in Italian, and in musical directions it shows you to omit a particular effect or accessory. You’ll see it in phrases like sansa sordino (senza sordino) meaning play without the mute, or senza vibrato meaning without vibrato. It’s part of the traditional Italian terminology used on scores to communicate technique and tone color quickly. Because it literally means without, it directs you to drop what’s named rather than add something or stay quiet; that’s why the intended meaning is “without.” The other ideas—“with,” “always,” or “quietly”—have their own common terms in music notation, so they don’t fit this word.