da capo

[ dah kah-poh; Italian dah kah-paw ]

adjective

1. repeated from the beginning (used as a musical direction).

noun

1. a section of music that is to be repeated from the beginning.

da capo

/ dɑː ˈkɑːpəʊ /

adjective

1. music to be repeated (in whole or part) from the beginning

Word History and Origins

Origin of da capo¹

1715–25; < Italian: literally, from the head; da, chief

Word History and Origins

Origin of da capo¹

C18: from Italian, literally: from the head

Example Sentences

The British soprano Lucy Crowe’s expertise and imagination in Baroque music gives her the freedom to turn da capo arias into feats of feeling.

From New York Times

In the da capo section — on the words “Shout! Shout!” — instead of letting them get louder, I now make it more internal.

From New York Times

Nearly all examples of opera seria composed during the first half of the 18th century, including Handel’s, are mostly constructed from “da capo” building blocks.

From New York Times

He conducted himself, from the harpsichord, a five-piece instrumental ensemble, and he kept many of the da capo arias complete, with an eye to musical rather than dramatic integrity.

From Washington Post

Probably the whistler's stock was limited, and he repeated the piece, whatever it was, da capo ad libitum.

From Project Gutenberg