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Ossia

An alternative passage offered as an easier or different version

Category
performance
Pronunciation
ohs-SEE-ah
Origin

Italian

Length
215 words · 2 min read

About Ossia

Ossia (meaning "or" or "alternatively") marks a small-staff alternative to the main musical text, typically offering a simplified version of a technically demanding passage or presenting the composer's alternative reading. It appears most frequently in virtuosic piano and vocal music, where the main text may contain passages that are beyond some performers' capabilities.

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v1 · 10/04/2026Browse all terms →