Editing Octave (section)

=== ''Ottava alta'' and ''bassa'' ===
{{Image frame|content=<score lang="lilypond"> {
\relative c' {
   \clef treble 
   \time 4/4
   \key c \major
   c4 e g2
   \ottava #-1 c,4 e g2
   \ottava #-2 c,4 e g2
} }
</score>|caption=Similar example with ''8<sup>vb</sup>'' and ''15<sup>mb</sup>''}}
{{Stack|{{Image frame|content=<score lang="lilypond"> {
\relative c''' {
   \clef treble 
   \time 4/4
   \key c \major
   c4 e g2
   \ottava #1 c,4 e g2
   \ottava #2 c,4 e g2
} }
</score>|width=310|caption=Example of the same three notes expressed in three ways: (1) regularly, (2) in an ''8<sup>va</sup>'' bracket, and (3) in a ''15<sup>ma</sup>'' bracket}}}}
{{anchor|ottava_e_quindicesima}}
The notation ''8<sup>a</sup>'' or ''8<sup>va</sup>'' is sometimes seen in [[sheet music]], meaning "play this an octave higher than written" (''all' ottava'': "at the octave" or ''all' 8<sup>va</sup>''). ''8<sup>a</sup>'' or ''8<sup>va</sup>'' stands for ''ottava'', the [[Italian language|Italian]] word for octave (or "eighth"); the octave above may be specified as ''ottava alta'' or ''ottava sopra''). Sometimes ''8<sup>va</sup>'' is used to tell the musician to play a passage an octave ''lower'' (when placed under rather than over the staff), though the similar notation ''8<sup>vb</sup>'' (''ottava bassa'' or ''ottava sotto'') is also used. Similarly, ''[[fifteenth|15<sup>ma</sup>]]'' (''quindicesima'') means "play two octaves higher than written" and ''15<sup>mb</sup>'' (''quindicesima bassa'') means "play two octaves lower than written."

The abbreviations ''col 8'', ''coll' 8'', and ''c. 8<sup>va</sup>'' stand for ''coll'ottava'', meaning "with the octave", i.e. to play the notes in the passage together with the notes in the notated octaves. Any of these directions can be cancelled with the word ''loco'', but often a dashed line or bracket indicates the extent of the music affected.<ref>{{Cite Grove |last=Prout |first=Ebenezer |last2=Fallows |first2=David |title=All'ottava|name-list-style=amp}}</ref>
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