parlando

[ pahr-lahn-doh ]

adjective

, Music.

1. sung or played as though speaking or reciting (a musical direction).

parlando

/ pɑːˈlændəʊ /

adjective

1. music to be performed as though speaking

Word History and Origins

Origin of parlando¹

1875–80; < Italian, present participle of parlare to speak; parle

Word History and Origins

Origin of parlando¹

Italian: speaking, from parlare to speak

Example Sentences

Sieglinda's phrases are simple, many of them exquisite, most of them designed to be sung parlando, rather spoken than really sung.

From Project Gutenberg

The monotonous parlando is provided with just so much of melody as to indicate that it is sung, not spoken.

From Project Gutenberg

Instead of broad, flowing, but intelligible themes, a mongrel breed of recitative and parlando was to take their place.

From Project Gutenberg

He tried to imitate ordinary conversational speech with music half sung and half spoken—what came to be called "parlando."

From Project Gutenberg

His words are parlando, but the orchestra illumines them with music clear as a calcium light.

From Project Gutenberg