Alberti bass
A broken-chord accompaniment pattern in which the notes of a chord are played in the order lowest-highest-middle-highest
In Depth
Named after the Italian composer Domenico Alberti, this left-hand pattern (C-G-E-G for a C major chord) became ubiquitous in Classical keyboard music. It provides harmonic support while creating rhythmic momentum and a singing middle voice. Mozart used it extensively, as did Haydn, early Beethoven, and countless lesser composers. The pattern has been criticised as formulaic, but in the hands of a great composer it provides an unobtrusive harmonic bed that allows the right-hand melody to sing freely.
Alberti himself was a minor composer whose music is almost entirely forgotten — his lasting fame rests entirely on this accompaniment pattern that bears his name.