A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/All' Ottava

ALL' OTTAVA (Ital.). 'In the octave.' (1) In pianoforte music a passage marked all' 8va, (or merely 8va.) is to be played an octave higher than written, if the sign is placed above the notes, an octave lower if placed below them. In the latter case the more accurate indication 8va. bassa is frequently employed. The duration of the transposition is shown by a dotted line, and when the notes are again to be played as written, the word loco (Ital., 'in its place') is put over (or under) the music. (2) In orchestral scores, especially manuscripts, all' 8va. signifies that one instrument plays in octaves with another, either above or below. (3) In playing from a figured bass the term shows that no harmonies are to be employed, and that the upper parts merely double the bass in octaves. In this case it is equivalent to tasto solo.

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