Off-the-cuff

In music and other performing arts, the phrase (; from Latin for 'at one's pleasure' or 'as you desire'), often shortened to "ad lib" (as an adjective or adverb) or "ad-lib" (as a verb or noun), refers to various forms of improvisation.

The roughly synonymous phrase ('in accordance with ne'sgood pleasure') is less common but, in its Italian form , 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 and ). Libido is the etymologically closer cognate known in English.

Music

As a direction in sheet music, 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;
*to omit an instrument part, such as a nonessential accompaniment, for the duration of the passage; or
*in the phrase "repeat ," to play the passage an arbitrary number of times ('' cf.'' vamp).

Note that the direction (see above) has a more restricted meaning, generally referring to only the first two types of discretion. Baroque music, especially, has a written or implied , with most composers intimating the freedom the performer and conductor have.

For post-Baroque classical music and jazz, see cadenza.

Other performing arts

"Ad-lib" is used to describe individual moments during live theatre when an actor speaks through their character using words not found in the play's text. When the entire performance is predicated on spontaneous creation, the process is called improvisational theatre.

In film, the term ''ad-lib'' usually refers to the interpolation of unscripted material in an otherwise scripted performance. For example, in interviews, Dustin Hoffman says he ''ad-libbed'' the now famous line, "I'm walking here! I'm walking here!" as "Ratso" Rizzo in '' Midnight Cowboy''.

Live performers such as television talk-show hosts sometimes deliver material that sounds ad-libbed but is actually scripted. They may employ ''ad-lib writers'' to prepare such material. Some actors are also known for their ability or tendency to ad-lib, such as Peter Falk (of the series ''Columbo''), who would ad-lib such mannerisms as absent-mindedness while in character.

The HBO sitcom ''Curb Your Enthusiasm'' by Seinfeld co-creator Larry David primarily uses retroscripting and ad lib instead of scripted dialogue.

See also

* List of Latin phrases
*
*
*Improvisation
* Mad Libs

References

* {{cite book
, title=Amo, Amas, Amat and More
, url=https://archive.org/details/amoamasamatmore00ehrl
, url-access=registration
, first=Eugene
, last=Ehrlich
, year=1985
, pag
23
, publisher=Harper & Row, Publishers
, location=New York

Latin words and phrases
Improvisation
Musical terminology