Legato phrasing

Definition

Legato phrasing is a musical technique where notes are played or sung smoothly and connectedly, without any noticeable breaks between them. This style is essential in conveying emotional expression and fluidity in vocal music, particularly in the Baroque era, where performers focused on conveying the text's meaning through their delivery.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Legato phrasing is often indicated in musical notation by a curved line connecting the notes, showing that they should be played smoothly.
2. In Baroque vocal music, legato phrasing allows singers to express the emotions embedded in the lyrics while maintaining the flow of the melody.
3. Performers may use breath control techniques to achieve legato phrasing effectively, as it requires smooth transitions between notes without interruption.
4. Legato is often contrasted with staccato, where notes are played sharply and detached from one another, creating a different expressive effect.
5. In Baroque performance practices, legato phrasing was considered crucial for achieving an expressive and lyrical style that showcased the singer's virtuosity.

Review Questions

• How does legato phrasing contribute to the emotional expression in Baroque vocal music?
  • Legato phrasing plays a vital role in conveying emotions in Baroque vocal music by allowing singers to deliver phrases smoothly and continuously. This technique helps maintain the lyrical quality of the music while emphasizing the textual meaning. By connecting notes without breaks, singers can evoke feelings that resonate with the audience and enhance the overall interpretative impact of their performance.
• Discuss how legato phrasing is notated in sheet music and its implications for performance practices.
  • Legato phrasing is typically notated with a slur, represented by a curved line above or below the connected notes. This notation instructs performers to play or sing those notes smoothly without breaks. In performance practices of the Baroque period, adhering to these notations was essential for achieving the desired expressiveness and fluidity within the music. Musicians needed to develop specific techniques, such as breath control, to execute legato effectively while maintaining clarity in their sound.
• Evaluate the impact of legato phrasing on the development of vocal techniques during the Baroque period.
  • The emphasis on legato phrasing during the Baroque period significantly influenced vocal techniques by encouraging singers to prioritize smoothness and connectedness in their delivery. This focus led to advancements in breath control and vocal agility, allowing performers to tackle more complex melodic lines with greater ease. As legato became a hallmark of expressive singing, it set new standards for vocal artistry and influenced later musical styles by instilling a deeper appreciation for emotional expression through seamless phrasing.

Related terms

Articulation: The clarity and distinctness of the notes played or sung, which can greatly affect the interpretation of musical phrases.

Melisma: The singing of a single syllable of text while moving between several different notes, often used in vocal music to add expressiveness.

Dynamics: The variations in loudness and intensity in music, which, when combined with legato phrasing, enhance the emotional impact of a performance.