Maestro Explained

Maestro (; from the Italian maestro pronounced as /it/, meaning "master" or "teacher,"^[1] plural: maestros or maestri) is an honorific title of respect, sometimes abbreviated Mo. The term is most commonly used in the context of Western classical music and opera, in line with the ubiquitous use of Italian musical terms.

In music

The word maestro is most often used in addressing or referring to conductors. Less frequently, one might refer to respected composers, performers, impresarios, musicologists, and music teachers.

In the world of Italian opera, the title is also used to designate a number of positions within the orchestra and company that have specific duties during rehearsal and performance. These include:

• Maestro sostituto or maestro collaboratore: musicians who act as répétiteurs and assistant conductors during performances.
• Maestro concertatore, the keyboard continuo player, who prepares singers and leads rehearsals.^[2]
• Maestro direttore: the leader of the first violins of the orchestra (see concertmaster), who may also have administrative duties such as hiring and paying musicians^[3]
• Maestro suggeritore: the prompter

See also

• Pandit
• Ustad

Further reading

• Book: Lebrecht, Norman . Norman Lebrecht . The Maestro Myth: Great Conductors in Pursuit of Power . 2nd revised . 1 January 2001 . First published 1991 . . 0-8065-2088-4. none.
• Kennedy, Michael (2006), The Oxford Dictionary of Music, 985 pages,
• Book: Warrack. John. John Warrack. West. Ewan. The Oxford Dictionary of Opera. 15 October 1992. Oxford University Press, USA. 0-19-869164-5. registration. none.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Online Etymology Dictionary . 2009-10-11 . 2011-09-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110923075603/http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=maestro . live .
2. Maestro concertatore.
3. Maestro direttore.