Ad libitum

Ad libitum (/ædˈlɪbtəm/) is Latin for "at one's pleasure"; it is often shortened to "ad lib" (as an adjective or adverb) or "ad-lib" (as a verb or noun). The roughly synonymous phrase a bene placito ("in accordance with [one's] good pleasure") is less common but, in its Italian form a piacere, entered the musical lingua franca (see below).

The phrase "at liberty" is often associated mnemonically (because of the alliteration of the lib- syllable), although it is not the translation (there is no cognation between libitum and liber). Libido is the etymologically closer cognate known in English.

Music or rhythm

As a direction in sheet music, ad libitum indicates that the performer or conductor has one of a variety of types of discretion with respect to a given passage:

  • to play the passage in free time rather than in strict or "metronomic" tempo (a practice known as rubato when not expressly indicated by the composer);
  • to improvise a melodic line fitting the general structure prescribed by the passage's written notes or chords;
  • Ad lib (disambiguation)

    Ad Lib is the process of making it up as you go along.

    Ad Lib may also refer to:

  • Ad Lib (album), a 1959 album by Jimmy Giuffre
  • AdLib, a sound card manufacturer
  • Ad Lib (typeface), a typeface
  • The Ad Libs, a band
  • Ad Lib (comedy show)

    Ad Lib is a comedy show consisting of ad lib conversations, usually between famous writers and comedians, each with a mutual interest.

    History

    Ad Lib is the brainchild of Stuart Snaith, formerly Director of Comedy at BBC Worldwide and MD of 2entertain, and was launched on 21 August 2013 at the Edinburgh Festival, produced by Dan Schreiber. The opening night featured TV writer Steven Moffat (Doctor Who, Sherlock) and comedian Frank Skinner, a Doctor Who fan, compered by Scottish comedian Fred MacAulay. Ad Lib ran at Edinburgh for a further four consecutive nights, featuring Terry Pratchett with John Lloyd, John Bishop with Jason Manford and Andrew Maxwell, Neil Gaiman with Phil Jupitus and Mitch Benn, and Sarah Millican with Hannah Gadsby and Susan Calman.

    In the news

    The first Ad Lib event featuring Steven Moffat and Frank Skinner drew considerable media interest for Moffat's comments on two subjects: Sherlock's fall in the last episode of the series and the appointment of Peter Capaldi as the new Doctor Who. Moffat conceded that the Doctor can only regenerate 12 times (Capaldi is the 12th) but did not reveal how, or if, he intended to get round this in future. He also stated that he would be surprised if Capaldi did not play the part in his native Scottish accent.

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    Latest News for: ad lib

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    Please Be Normal About Sabrina Carpenter

    New York Magazine 22 Mar 2025
    They added that ... During the first leg of her tour last year, some fans flipped out over her ad-libbed “Nonsense” outros, in which she made up NSFW lyrics based on what city she was performing in.
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    Lib Dem trans row as members oppose leadership's support for making it easier to legally ...

    The Daily Mail 21 Mar 2025
    Delegates at the Lib Dem spring ... 'Lib Dem members attending the party's spring conference have a chance to debate policy and put forward their views ... A spokesperson for the LGBT+ Lib Dem group added.
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    How Labour councils are increasing tax more than Tory ones

    AOL 20 Mar 2025
    She added ... Lib Dems will wreck your public services, Reform has no experience running anything, Greens will run councils into the ground and Labour will spend, tax and waste your money, just like they always do.”.
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    Jey Uso Shares His Thoughts on Jimmy Uso and Solo Sikoa’s Success

    The Times of India 20 Mar 2025
    He can ad-lib way better than me off the dime.'— HourlyJimmyUso (@HourlyJimmyUso) Jey also described Jimmy as 'number one' and expressed his pride in seeing his twin finally get the opportunity ...
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    Tammy Pescatelli brings laughs as part of United Theatre\u2019s \u2018SoupyFest\u2019

    Kent County Daily Times 20 Mar 2025
    The next scene, he tossed something at me that was ad lib, I gave it back, he gave it back, and we went back and forth, very much like he does with Favreau ... strike, so everything was ad libbed.
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    Regina Hall, Kelvin Harrison Jr. dish on Sadie Sink and cold-blooded 'O'Dessa'

    Oakridger 20 Mar 2025
    'O'Dessa' stars Regina Hall, Kelvin Harrison Jr. dish on Sadie Sink. "O'Dessa" actors Regina Hall and Kelvin Harrison Jr ... "That was an ad-lib, actually," says the 54-year-old actress, seated beside her co-star Kelvin Harrison Jr ... "I studied.
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    Shaky voice? There’s no shame at this no-audition choir that’s teaching Angelenos to sing

    The Los Angeles Times 20 Mar 2025
    The emails arrive in people's inboxes a few times each year with subject lines like ... There are no auditions, and all skill levels are welcome ... Two singers stepped out of the ranks to recite the closing lines, and one of them ad-libbed an addition.
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    Playboi Carti Gets Lost in the Music

    New York Magazine 19 Mar 2025
    He is a massive inspiration for pitched-up vocals and swarming ad-libs in mainstream hip-hop, though he gets the latter from Jeezy ... The clean vocals are so slick, and the ad-libs so coarse, that rumors ...
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    TDE Punch responds to Kanye West’s recent comments on Kendrick Lamar

    NME 18 Mar 2025
    READ MORE ... cinematic chaos ... he did ad-libs for ‘Mojo Jojo’, rapped a full verse on ‘Good Credit’ and helped with the chorus for ‘Good Credit’ ... “Drake added something to the algorithm’s top frequency ... Ye added ... He said ... .
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    The Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Farce, by Ilana Mercer

    The Unz Review 18 Mar 2025
    Credit. Drop Site News ... ~ilana. “We’re the United States. We’re not an agent of Israel ... Get down here and sign this ceasefire on the dotted line.” I ad-libbed “old” in, because the January-15 accord was modeled after one Hamas had composed in May of 2024.
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    Playboi Carti: Music review – the most anticipated rap album this decade was worth the wait

    The Observer 17 Mar 2025
    Like Carti himself, Kendrick Lamar bends his voice into various forms, from Mojo Jojo – where he’s a trickster-god capering on Carti’s shoulder, throwing mischievous ad-libs in his ear – to Backd00r, ...
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    Playboi Carti, rap’s Nosferatu, sails into town with ‘Music’ at Rolling Loud

    The Los Angeles Times 17 Mar 2025
    But for about 15 minutes in the middle of the set, his show nearly boiled over ... He’s not a technically-astute rapper in the way Kendrick Lamar is, but he’s a visionary of smeared ad libs, freaky voices and inside-out timing ... bracing, wicked, new ... .
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    Playboi Carti – ‘Music’ review: cinematic chaos

    NME 17 Mar 2025
    Music’ is an album as audacious as Playboi Carti himself ... READ MORE. The story of SoundCloud rap in 15 seminal songs ... ‘Mojo Jojo’ serves as a warm-up as Lamar only does ad-libs, but ‘Good Credit’ shows the yin and yang in full effect ... Details ... .
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    Playboi Carti, Key Glock, B.G., And More New Hip-Hop Music To Spring Forward To

    Vibe Magazine 15 Mar 2025
    Future, The Weeknd Young Thug, Lil Uzi Vert, and Skepta are scattered throughout the hour and 10-minute experience, but the biggest surprise comes in the sparse Kendrick Lamar verses, ad-libs, and drops throughout the project.
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    Chappell Roan - The Giver

    Music News 14 Mar 2025
    My only tiny and miniscule critique here is that I wish she had included the ad lib from SNL, “All you country boys say you know how to treat a woman right / Well, only a woman knows how to treat a ...
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