Enveloppé

As Printed on a Score

Printed over the passage or layer it describes, often between piano staves, sometimes with a complement — enveloppé de pédale. It lasts until the texture clears or a new colour word appears, and may apply to one strand while another is marked en dehors.

Also spelled: enveloppe

How Composers Use It

Enveloppé asks for a sound wrapped and veiled — edges softened, harmonies blended by pedal or by a cushioned touch — so that a background surrounds rather than accompanies. Ravel opens Une barque sur l’océan asking for the sound to be very enveloped in pedal. Pair it with en dehors on the melody so the veil does not swallow everything.

Example

Boulanger, Clairières dans le ciel, “Nous nous aimerons tant”, piano, m. 38: “enveloppé”, printed after a rit. in the same bar as “en dehors”.

Related Terms