Parlando

Parlando (Italian for 'in the manner of speech') is a musical direction instructing the performer to play or sing in a style resembling natural speech. It emphasizes clarity, articulation, and rhythmic precision, much like spoken word. This approach often prioritizes the meaning and inflection of the text or melodic line over smooth, lyrical phrasing. It results in a style that is distinct from legato or other smooth musical directions, and focuses more on expression of feeling within the sounds.

Parlando meaning with examples

• In the opera aria, the composer marked a section 'parlando'. The singer, instead of singing smoothly, delivered the lines with distinct emphasis, mirroring the urgency of the character's plea. The articulation was sharp, and each syllable was clearly pronounced, mirroring the way someone would quickly articulate the words in an animated discussion.
• The instrumental piece features a cello melody marked 'parlando'. The cellist, avoiding a flowing legato, played the notes with a clipped, speech-like quality. The rhythmic precision was crucial; the cello’s sounds mirrored the emotional intensity of the text that the instrument’s melody was to express.
• During the ballad, the vocalist, at a sudden moment of emotional intensity, switched from smooth legato phrasing to a 'parlando' style. Her tone became more conversational, drawing the listeners in to her character’s raw emotional vulnerability. It was intended to suggest that she was telling the story with her own words.
• In musical theater, the character, after experiencing the conflict, utilized a 'parlando' section to articulate the conflict’s core problem. The actors use a speech-like tone so the audience understands the main points, and to showcase the emotional depth of the experience.
• A particular composition calls for the piano to play a 'parlando' passage. The pianist emphasizes individual notes and chords in a rhythmic, almost percussive way, rather than attempting a smooth and connected sound. The emphasis is to evoke a feeling of conversation between the instrumental lines.