Sans respirer

As Printed on a Score

Printed over a vocal or wind part, often with a slur, phrase mark or bracket across the place where a breath would normally be taken. It applies only to that span; the next breath mark or phrase ending releases it.

How Composers Use It

It asks the singer or wind player to carry a phrase through without breathing, keeping the line unbroken. Check that the span is singable in one breath at the given tempo and dynamic — soft singing uses less air, loud singing more — and give the performer a place to breathe beforehand. It is the French counterpart of senza respirare.

Example

Chaminade, “Chanson espagnole”, voice, m. 10: “sans respirer”, at pp; the song opens “Allegro”.

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