Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Spanish term or phrase:
cola
English translation:
(little) figure at the end
Added to glossary by
Charles Davis
May 22, 2016 17:53
7 yrs ago
2 viewers *
Spanish term
Cola
Spanish to English
Art/Literary
Music
Looking for the translation of definition 15 here, or possibly a misuse of the term. This is referring to the Aerosmith song I Don't Want to Miss a Thing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkK8g6FMEXE
Observa cómo el tema va adquiriendo fuerza.
Introducción:
Con un motivo de orquesta de tres notas graves ascendentes con una pequeña cola.
cola1.
Del lat. vulg. coda, y este del lat. cauda.
15. f. Mús. Detención en la última sílaba de lo que se canta.
http://dle.rae.es/srv/fetch?id=9itfzUx|9iuJPym|9iwFrX3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkK8g6FMEXE
Observa cómo el tema va adquiriendo fuerza.
Introducción:
Con un motivo de orquesta de tres notas graves ascendentes con una pequeña cola.
cola1.
Del lat. vulg. coda, y este del lat. cauda.
15. f. Mús. Detención en la última sílaba de lo que se canta.
http://dle.rae.es/srv/fetch?id=9itfzUx|9iuJPym|9iwFrX3
Proposed translations
(English)
4 +3 | (little) figure at the end | Charles Davis |
Change log
Jun 5, 2016 04:12: Charles Davis Created KOG entry
Proposed translations
+3
1 hr
Selected
(little) figure at the end
This doesn't refer to a coda (which is never called a "cola" in my experience). Nor is it using "cola" in the sense of definition 15, which I admit is new to me and which I suppose you would call a pause or (more formally) a fermata. It explicitly refers to the introduction of the song, which consists of "tres notas graves ascendentes con una pequeña cola", played four times before the voice comes in. The three rising notes (B, C#, E) are played in the lower strings, followed by drum beats the first time and by a higher six-note figure from the violins the other three times (slightly different each time). It's more or less like this:
DA - DA - DA - (da-dada-dada-da)
DA - DA - DA - (da-da-dada-dada-da).
DA DA DA are the tres notas graves ascendentes and the bit in lower case in parentheses is the cola. It just means a "tail" to the phrase, but I don't think you would call it a tail in English. I don't think there's a technical term for it. I would just call it a little figure at the end (of the phrase), or you could say "three low rising notes followed by a little figure", for example. Something like that.
DA - DA - DA - (da-dada-dada-da)
DA - DA - DA - (da-da-dada-dada-da).
DA DA DA are the tres notas graves ascendentes and the bit in lower case in parentheses is the cola. It just means a "tail" to the phrase, but I don't think you would call it a tail in English. I don't think there's a technical term for it. I would just call it a little figure at the end (of the phrase), or you could say "three low rising notes followed by a little figure", for example. Something like that.
Peer comment(s):
agree |
Robert Carter
: Yes you're quite right Charles, it's not a coda at all, having listened to it. I have no idea what that's called formally, but your term works I think, perhaps "trailing figure" or "figure tailing off"?
2 hrs
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Thanks very much, Robert! That's a good idea; it would keep the "tail" (or "trailing") idea.
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agree |
philgoddard
: Flourish or embellishment, perhaps.
3 hrs
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Thanks, Phil. I think one of those could be used, yes. I was thinking of "flourish", in fact, though I decided on the more neutral "figure" in the end.
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agree |
neilmac
: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DUEAG5eO6c
13 hrs
|
Cheers, Neil :) // Wonderful! I haven't heard it for about 30 years. The Count Basie Orchestra on triangle.
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Selected automatically based on peer agreement."
Discussion
However, I don't think the writer of the ST here had Def. 15 in mind. I think Charles is right - it refers to the short, slightly faster phrase after the 3 slow, emphasized notes, in the introduction. I also don't know a formal musical term for this in English, so a clear, descriptive phrase is all we can do, I think - & I think Charles's "little figure at the end" is perfectly fine here.