Messa di voce
Encyclopedia
Messa di voce is a musical technique that involves a gradual crescendo
and decrescendo
while sustaining a single pitch. That is, a note is sung at a very quiet volume, gradually and smoothly made louder until it reaches a high volume, then similarly made quiet again. The technique can be used on many instruments, but is perhaps best known for its use among singers.
Messa di voce should not be confused with mezza voce (Italian, half voice) which means to sing at half strength.
, intonation
, timbre
, vibrato
, and so on. This requires an extremely high level of vocal coordination, particularly in the decrescendo, so the technique is not often explicitly called for and is rarely heard outside of classical music.
such as Farinelli
(and is now a mark of the mezzo-soprano
s and countertenor
s who sing the same roles in Baroque operas). It was also popular in the bel canto
period, when it was often used as a dramatic opening flourish for an aria
, for example Casta diva. It became less common as the popular style of opera
singing evolved from the light and elaborate music of that era to the louder and more speech-like singing of the middle and later 19th century.
In the popular music
of the West messa di voce has been even less common. It still appears occasionally in some of the more ornate styles of popular music, however, like black gospel and other styles influenced by it.
Dynamics (music)
In music, dynamics normally refers to the volume of a sound or note, but can also refer to every aspect of the execution of a given piece, either stylistic or functional . The term is also applied to the written or printed musical notation used to indicate dynamics...
and decrescendo
Dynamics (music)
In music, dynamics normally refers to the volume of a sound or note, but can also refer to every aspect of the execution of a given piece, either stylistic or functional . The term is also applied to the written or printed musical notation used to indicate dynamics...
while sustaining a single pitch. That is, a note is sung at a very quiet volume, gradually and smoothly made louder until it reaches a high volume, then similarly made quiet again. The technique can be used on many instruments, but is perhaps best known for its use among singers.
Messa di voce should not be confused with mezza voce (Italian, half voice) which means to sing at half strength.
Technique
The messa di voce is universally considered a very advanced vocal technique. To be properly executed, the only feature of the note being sung that should change is the volume - not the pitchPitch (music)
Pitch is an auditory perceptual property that allows the ordering of sounds on a frequency-related scale.Pitches are compared as "higher" and "lower" in the sense associated with musical melodies,...
, intonation
Intonation (music)
Intonation, in music, is a musician's realization of pitch accuracy, or the pitch accuracy of a musical instrument. Intonation may be flat, sharp, or both, successively or simultaneously.-Interval, melody, and harmony:...
, timbre
Timbre
In music, timbre is the quality of a musical note or sound or tone that distinguishes different types of sound production, such as voices and musical instruments, such as string instruments, wind instruments, and percussion instruments. The physical characteristics of sound that determine the...
, vibrato
Vibrato
Vibrato is a musical effect consisting of a regular, pulsating change of pitch. It is used to add expression to vocal and instrumental music. Vibrato is typically characterised in terms of two factors: the amount of pitch variation and the speed with which the pitch is varied .-Vibrato and...
, and so on. This requires an extremely high level of vocal coordination, particularly in the decrescendo, so the technique is not often explicitly called for and is rarely heard outside of classical music.
History
In classical music, the messa di voce was associated with famous castratiCastrato
A castrato is a man with a singing voice equivalent to that of a soprano, mezzo-soprano, or contralto voice produced either by castration of the singer before puberty or one who, because of an endocrinological condition, never reaches sexual maturity.Castration before puberty prevents a boy's...
such as Farinelli
Farinelli
Farinelli , was the stage name of Carlo Maria Broschi, celebrated Italian castrato singer of the 18th century and one of the greatest singers in the history of opera.- Early years :...
(and is now a mark of the mezzo-soprano
Mezzo-soprano
A mezzo-soprano is a type of classical female singing voice whose range lies between the soprano and the contralto singing voices, usually extending from the A below middle C to the A two octaves above...
s and countertenor
Countertenor
A countertenor is a male singing voice whose vocal range is equivalent to that of a contralto, mezzo-soprano, or a soprano, usually through use of falsetto, or far more rarely than normal, modal voice. A pre-pubescent male who has this ability is called a treble...
s who sing the same roles in Baroque operas). It was also popular in the bel canto
Bel canto
Bel canto , along with a number of similar constructions , is an Italian opera term...
period, when it was often used as a dramatic opening flourish for an aria
Aria
An aria in music was originally any expressive melody, usually, but not always, performed by a singer. The term is now used almost exclusively to describe a self-contained piece for one voice usually with orchestral accompaniment...
, for example Casta diva. It became less common as the popular style of opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
singing evolved from the light and elaborate music of that era to the louder and more speech-like singing of the middle and later 19th century.
In the popular music
Popular music
Popular music belongs to any of a number of musical genres "having wide appeal" and is typically distributed to large audiences through the music industry. It stands in contrast to both art music and traditional music, which are typically disseminated academically or orally to smaller, local...
of the West messa di voce has been even less common. It still appears occasionally in some of the more ornate styles of popular music, however, like black gospel and other styles influenced by it.
External links
- Diane M Pulte. The Messa di voce and its effectiveness as a training exercise for the young singer DMA Dissertation at Ohio State University; 2005.