Parlando
Definition. Speaking — vocal style where the singer approaches spoken word, with rhythmic precision but minimal sustained tone.
Detailed Explanation
Parlando is Italian for ‘speaking’. As a vocal direction it instructs the singer to perform in a speech-like manner — with rhythmic precision but minimal sustained tone, approaching the natural inflections and rhythms of speech rather than fully sung tone.
The technique is found throughout opera (especially operatic recitativo), in jazz vocal styling, in certain folk traditions, and in 20th-century concert music. The line between spoken and sung is crossed deliberately, creating a particular dramatic immediacy. The performer speaks the rhythms of the music but on approximate pitches.
The extreme version of parlando is sprechgesang (German for ‘speech-song’), used by Schoenberg and Berg in works like Pierrot Lunaire. The performer speaks the rhythms but at notated pitches, producing a hybrid between speech and song that is intentionally unsettling.
Etymology
Italian, gerund of parlare (‘to speak’).
In Practice
Speak the rhythms; touch the pitches. Don’t fully sing; don’t merely speak. The technique requires committed performance — a half-hearted parlando sounds awkward.
Notable Examples
- Mozart — Operatic recitativo (parlando recitative passages)
- Schoenberg — Pierrot Lunaire (sprechgesang throughout)
Related Terms
Opposite Of
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Parlando mean in music?
Speaking — vocal style where the singer approaches spoken word, with rhythmic precision but minimal sustained tone.
Where does the word Parlando come from?
Italian, gerund of parlare (‘to speak’).
How is Parlando performed in practice?
Speak the rhythms; touch the pitches. Don’t fully sing; don’t merely speak. The technique requires committed performance — a half-hearted parlando sounds awkward.
What musical terms are related to Parlando?
Related terms include: Sprechgesang.
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