More on 'smorfioso'

Some hypotheses about the presence of the Italian term “smorfia” and its derivatives as both local nuances (“con smorfia”) and tempo indication (“Allegretto smorfioso”) in Luigi Boccherini’s scores are proposed. Different meanings of the relatively recent morpheme smorf- are taken into account, as well as its slang origins, that go back to the 16th century. Although not particularly widespread within the Italian literary tradition, smorf- is well attested in the works of playwrights like Carlo Goldoni, some of whose comedies are particularly significant in this regard. The occurrence of the term “smorfiosa” in Da Ponte’s libretto for Mozart’s "Le nozze Figaro" is also considered. Overall, the examples show that at Boccherini’s time the term “smorfia”: usually means “mawkish, simpering attitude”; is proper for comic style; is suited to lower social levels; refers exclusively to a female attitude, often with erotic implications.