Continuare il canto

As Printed on a Score

Printed in an accompaniment part, often in parentheses, where it carries on the melody after the voice or another instrument stops; it lasts while that line continues. The German equivalent is den Gesang fortsetzend.

How Composers Use It

Use it when the melody passes from the singer to the accompaniment and must not drop in character — the piano finishing the phrase the voice has left. It warns the pianist that these notes are not accompaniment but the continuation of the tune, to be voiced and phrased as song.

Example

Mahler, Kindertotenlieder, “Oft denk’ ich, sie sind nur ausgegangen”, piano, m. 21: “(continuare il canto)” beside “(den Gesang fortsetzend)”, with “cresc.” in the same bar.

Related Terms