Colla voce

As Printed on a Score

Printed in the accompaniment — the piano part or the orchestral parts — where a singer is to lead the timing, and in force until a tempo or a new tempo word. It can also be folded into a heading, as in Allegretto (poco rubato, colla voce), where it covers the whole song.

Also spelled: col voce

How Composers Use It

The vocal form of colla parte: accompanists follow the singer’s declamation, breathing and rubato. It is indispensable in recitative, where the rhythm of the text overrides the metre, and at expressive peaks in songs. Put it in the accompanying parts and mark the return of strict time; the singer’s own part needs no marking. The ungrammatical col voce occasionally appears in print with the same meaning.

Example

Beethoven, Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125, fourth movement, first violins, m. 224: “colla voce”, during the bass soloist’s recitative that begins at m. 216 (“Recitativo”).

Related Terms