Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Spanish term or phrase:
agilidad de trazo
English translation:
facility / fluency / flexibility (of line)
Added to glossary by
Charles Davis
Nov 2, 2012 10:25
11 yrs ago
1 viewer *
Spanish term
Germany
Business and marketing specialist
Native in: English (Variants: British, UK, US, Canadian) 
Works in: Spanish to English, English, German to English
agilidad de trazo
Spanish to English
Art/Literary
Music
This term appears in a composer's biography.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Proposed translations
(English)
| 4 +3 | facility |
Charles Davis
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| 4 | a facility for creating a compelling synthesis of musical themes/motifs |
Jenni Lukac (X)
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Change log
Nov 12, 2012 14:06: Charles Davis Created KOG entry
Proposed translations
+3
8 hrs
Selected
facility
"Agilidad de trazo", in principle, doesn't have anything to do with synthesis, and there's nothing in the source text to suggest that meaning. "Agilidad" means agility or nimbleness; the main idea is quickness and perhaps also adaptability. "Trazo" just refers to composing. I think it's a visual art metaphor; the idea is of someone who can depict something in rapid, immediate strokes of the pen or brush (trazos).
The context refers to this composer's work producing music for film and TV, where immediacy is the key. "Agilidad" fits this perfectly. To do this kind of work you need to be able to compose quickly and fluently. To me, "facility" is the best word for the quality this refers to. I don't think you need anything more than that; the context is clearly about composition, so it will be understood that "facility" means "facility in composing music".
Phil suggests it might mean versatility, and I think this idea could be involved; specifically, the ability to produce music to fit the requirements of the film, theatre or TV material involved. But I think "facility", an ability to compose quickly, fluently and easily, includes this idea.
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Note added at 1 day13 mins (2012-11-03 10:38:52 GMT)
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I think Jim's suggestion of "fluency" is very good. I do think that the main idea is the ability to adapt fluently to requirements, rather than simply composing quickly (though film and TV scores do typically have to be produced under time pressure, since they have to be finalised after the material has been edited). I think the best word for the "agilidad" involved here is probably flexibility, which implies quickness of response and adaptability.
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Note added at 1 day45 mins (2012-11-03 11:10:38 GMT)
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And I think, on reflection, that "trazo" could be sensibly included by saying either "fluency of line" or "flexibility of line". I think the latter is closest to what it means.
The context refers to this composer's work producing music for film and TV, where immediacy is the key. "Agilidad" fits this perfectly. To do this kind of work you need to be able to compose quickly and fluently. To me, "facility" is the best word for the quality this refers to. I don't think you need anything more than that; the context is clearly about composition, so it will be understood that "facility" means "facility in composing music".
Phil suggests it might mean versatility, and I think this idea could be involved; specifically, the ability to produce music to fit the requirements of the film, theatre or TV material involved. But I think "facility", an ability to compose quickly, fluently and easily, includes this idea.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 day13 mins (2012-11-03 10:38:52 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
I think Jim's suggestion of "fluency" is very good. I do think that the main idea is the ability to adapt fluently to requirements, rather than simply composing quickly (though film and TV scores do typically have to be produced under time pressure, since they have to be finalised after the material has been edited). I think the best word for the "agilidad" involved here is probably flexibility, which implies quickness of response and adaptability.
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Note added at 1 day45 mins (2012-11-03 11:10:38 GMT)
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And I think, on reflection, that "trazo" could be sensibly included by saying either "fluency of line" or "flexibility of line". I think the latter is closest to what it means.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
philgoddard
8 mins
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Thanks, Phil :)
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| agree |
Jim Tucker (X)
: ok, perhaps "fluency". Can't tell for sure, but it's more likely the flexibility of his line, the ability to make music change quickly to adapt to the changing scenes in a film, rather than speed in composition.
14 hrs
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I agree with that. "Fluency" would be better. As you say, the key skill in theatre/TV/film composition is adapting promptly and flexibly to requirements. Thanks, Jim.
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| agree |
Manuel Locria
: +1 for Fluency definitely, even if it's not the exact one I think it gets the job done...
3 days 23 hrs
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Thanks very much, Manuel! I'd be happy to go with "fluency", though I think "flexibility" would now be my first choice.
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
3 hrs
a facility for creating a compelling synthesis of musical themes/motifs
One idea based on the complete sentence you have provided. Examples:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Béla_Bartók -
Bartók's style in his art music compositions was a synthesis of folk music,
finearts.uky.edu/music/musicology/dis/hill -
In the eight tableaux of his only opera, Saint François d'Assise (1983) , Messiaen created a synthesis of Catholic themes, colorful timbres, and musical ...
www.sibelius.fi/english/musiikki/ork_sinf_02.htm - T
Sibelius is known to have improvised one of the themes for the finale during the ... musical motifs of the movement are presented in a grand, masterly synthesis.
www.rootsworld.com/reviews/zafiros.shtml -
The musical Fifties, for example, persisted well beyond 1960, their end finally ... brass and strings, then returns to the train motif after a dramatic orchestral chord. ... well as another time, and reveals a unique and compelling musical synthesis.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Béla_Bartók -
Bartók's style in his art music compositions was a synthesis of folk music,
finearts.uky.edu/music/musicology/dis/hill -
In the eight tableaux of his only opera, Saint François d'Assise (1983) , Messiaen created a synthesis of Catholic themes, colorful timbres, and musical ...
www.sibelius.fi/english/musiikki/ork_sinf_02.htm - T
Sibelius is known to have improvised one of the themes for the finale during the ... musical motifs of the movement are presented in a grand, masterly synthesis.
www.rootsworld.com/reviews/zafiros.shtml -
The musical Fifties, for example, persisted well beyond 1960, their end finally ... brass and strings, then returns to the train motif after a dramatic orchestral chord. ... well as another time, and reveals a unique and compelling musical synthesis.
Discussion
Also any sort of broad stroke base of his music beyond his media/performance work? classical-based? jazz-bazed? rock/pop-based?