non troppo

American  

[non trop-oh, troh-poh, nohn troh-poh, nawn trawp-paw] / nɒn ˈtrɒp oʊ, ˈtroʊ poʊ, noʊn ˈtroʊ poʊ, nɔn ˈtrɔp pɔ /

adverb

Music.

1. not too much.

   allegro non troppo.

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non troppo British  

/ ˈnɒn ˈtrɒpəʊ /

adverb

1. music (preceded by a musical direction, esp a tempo marking) not to be observed too strictly (esp in the phrases allegro ma non troppo, adagio ma non troppo )

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Etymology

Origin of non troppo

Borrowed into English from Italian around 1850–55

Example Sentences

But there were also moments of great delicacy, as with the evanescent pizzicatos at the end of the symphony’s Vivace non troppo movement, a quintessential Mendelssohn scherzo in all but name.

From New York Times

The tempo marking is Allegro ma non troppo, meaning fast, but not overly so.

From New York Times

The first movement, Allegro non troppo, begins with a wistful, ambling melody that leads into episodes of discovery and development.

From New York Times

Ms. Lee played her solos in the section marked “Non troppo lento” with a rich, penetrating tone.

From New York Times

The work’s finale is marked Allegro ma non troppo, “not too much so” being, of course, a relative concept.

From New York Times