Whisper

As Printed on a Score

Printed over a vocal line, often in parentheses or as whispered, at the words concerned; in German editions with English translations it renders flüsternd. It lasts for the phrase marked, or until the next character or dynamic marking.

Also spelled: whispered

How Composers Use It

In vocal music it can mean literally whispered, unpitched speech or, as often, singing so softly that the tone barely sounds — notation and context decide, and x-shaped noteheads usually signal unpitched whisper. For instruments it is an image for extreme softness. Say which you mean, and keep the accompaniment very light so a whispered line can be heard.

Example

Mahler, Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen, “Ich hab’ ein glühend Messer”, voice, m. 46: “(whisper)”, this edition’s English for Mahler’s “flüsternd”, printed in the same bar at pp, after “Noch langsamer”.

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