roulade
1
9.9
A quick series of notes sung on one syllable
- noun
- /ruːˈlɑːd/
- Specialized
:
roulade
- The soprano dazzled the audience with a breathtaking roulade at the end of the aria.
Examples
-
Can you hear that roulade in her voice?
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Mastering the roulade requires excellent breath control and vocal agility.
-
Early Baroque music often features long roulades to showcase the singer's skill.
-
The singer performed a beautiful roulade during the concert.
-
The singer's performance featured impressive roulades that showcased her vocal agility.
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During the concert, the pianist played a series of complex roulades that delighted the audience.
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In her aria, she incorporated beautiful roulades to enhance the lyrical expression.
How Elaborate
coloratura
1
9.9
- Specialized
1
9.9
roulade
1
9.9
- Specialized
1
9.9
melisma
1
9.5
- Specialized
1
9.5
grace note
1
7.5
- Specialized
1
7.5
monosyllable
3
6.3
3
6.3
Surface Forms
Etymology
Roulade in music comes from the French verb rouler, meaning 'to roll', and helps to picture notes 'rolling' one after another. That's why a musical roulade is a fast, flowing run of notes sung on one syllable.