Parlando

As Printed on a Score

Printed over a vocal line (sometimes an instrumental one) where singing should come close to speech — light, quick, led by the words; it lasts for the phrase or until cantabile or another contrasting direction. The notes keep their pitches; true speech or Sprechstimme uses other notation.

How Composers Use It

Use it for patter, comic rapid text or a conversational aside inside a lyrical line; the singer lightens the tone and lets diction lead. Write rhythms that follow natural word stress, since the singer will stay close to them. On an instrument, parlando asks for phrasing with a speaking inflection.

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