Showing results for "vocalise"

• a variation of vocalize.

vocalise

¹ American  

[voh-kuh-leez] / ˌvoʊ kəˈliz /

noun

1. a musical composition consisting of the singing of melody with vowel sounds or nonsense syllables rather than text, as for special effect in classical compositions, in polyphonic jazz singing by special groups, or in virtuoso vocal exercises.

2. any such singing exercise or vocalized melody.

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vocalise ² American  

[voh-kuh-lahyz] / ˈvoʊ kəˌlaɪz /

verb (used with or without object)

vocalised, vocalising

1. Chiefly British. vocalize.

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vocalise British  

/ ˌvəʊkəˈliːz /

noun

1. a musical passage sung upon one vowel as an exercise to develop flexibility and control of pitch and tone; solfeggio

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Etymology

Origin of vocalise

1870–75; < French vocalise, apparently noun derivative of vocaliser to vocalize, with -ise taken as a noun suffix ( see -ise ²)

Example Sentences

Three female voices — Holly Sedillos, Catherine Brookman and Eliza Bagg, often employing woodwind-like vocalise — could have been pulled from a Minimalist ensemble.

From New York Times • May 22, 2023

Both feature women in their early 20s, who found themselves in circumstances they didn’t want, but felt unable to fully vocalise that they had reached their comfort limits.

From The Guardian • Jan. 17, 2018

Those composers include some from Luther’s time and some from our time, and instrumental chorale preludes appear in Swingle Singers-like vocalise, without the insistent perkiness.

From New York Times • Dec. 13, 2017

He says many politicians suffer from voice problems, but they can combat overuse by practicing breathing techniques to help them vocalise more effectively.

From BBC • Oct. 4, 2017

Those which were brooding, as they flitted over the nests or clung to the edges, uttering a peculiar note hard to vocalise.

From My Tropic Isle by Banfield, E. J. (Edmund James)