tremolo

[ trem-uh-loh ]

/ ˈtrɛm əˌloʊ /

a tremulous or vibrating effect produced on certain instruments and in the human voice, as to express emotion.

a mechanical device in an organ by which such an effect is produced.

Origin of tremolo

1715–25; < Italian: trembling < Latin tremulus tremulous

I heard, however, that she had never returned to the tremolo after I had once placed her voice in the right path.

Sixty Years of California Song |Margaret Blake-Alverson
It may have been in sympathetic response to the tremolo of feeling in his voice.

Doctor Luke of the Labrador |Norman Duncan
Holy's pony contributed to the tremolo effect by its short, nervous trot.

The Long Dim Trail |Forrestine C. Hooker
I have since learned that the greatest violinists do not overemphasise the tremolo.

The Belovd Vagabond |William J. Locke

The flush left his cheeks and the tremolo in his voice was replaced by a firm and even tone.

Don Hale with the Flying Squadron |W. Crispin Sheppard

tremolo

/ (ˈtrɛməˌləʊ) /

(in playing the violin, cello, etc) the rapid repetition of a single note produced by a quick back-and-forth movement of the bow
the rapid reiteration of two notes usually a third or greater interval apart (fingered tremolo)Compare trill 1 (def. 1)

(in singing) a fluctuation in pitch Compare vibrato

a vocal ornament of late renaissance music consisting of the increasingly rapid reiteration of a single note

another word for tremulant

C19: from Italian: quavering, from Medieval Latin tremulāre to tremble