A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Lusingando

by J. A. Fuller-Maitland

LUSINGANDO, or LUSINGHIERO, literally 'flattering' or 'coaxing,' whence its musical meaning comes to be 'in a soft tender manner,' resembling Amoroso in character, except that the latter is generally used at the beginning of movements, and the former as applying only to a short passage. Beethoven uses it in the Quartet, op. 131, in the slow movement (no. 4), where the entry of the second subject is marked 'Andante moderate e lusinghiero.' Lusingando is a very favourite direction of Weber's, occurring in the Piano Sonata op. 4, first movement, 'tranquillo e lusingando,' in L'invitation à la Valse, where the coquettish second subject reappears pianissimo in C major, and in several other places. Chopin uses it in the Rondo in F (in 3–4 time).

[ J. A. F. M. ]