Rulada is improvisation? Or the melism prescribed by the composer? In vocal art, roulade appeared several centuries ago. She was the decoration of the melody and served as a confirmation of the virtuosity of the singer.
What is roulade?
Rulada is Italian word. It has been a famous musical term for several centuries . But in French, there is a similar word with the same translation. The exact meaning of the word "roulade" is roll overflow.
This is a quick, masterly passage. It is used in singing, most often in a coloratura soprano part. This decoration gives the melody expressiveness and indicates the professionalism of the performer.
Most often, vocalists use chromatic moves in the roulade. Much less often you can hear tertz. Roulade usually begins with a sustained, accented sound.
Coloratura parties
Italy has always been famous for its virtuoso performers, composers. They sought not only to create a unique musical image, but also to show their skills. So the concept of coloratura appeared. This term means a party that can be decorated with all kinds of melisms.
The development of coloratura began in the 7th century. And its very rise took place in the VIII century. Many composers wrote coloratura parts. But performers sometimes included their own passages in improvisation. So, Italian prima donnas staged whole competitions in the art of vocals. With the help of roulades they had the opportunity to show the richness of the range and the duration of breathing.
Rulada is the same melism as gruppetto, trill, mordent, grace. After mastering the jewelry by vocalists, passages appeared in instrumental music.
The Wagnerian current caused the roulades to be practically not used in later works. Therefore, coloratura singers have to adhere to the old repertoire.
Composers and arias
For Italian music of past centuries, it was characteristic to make coloratura an end in itself. Therefore, many composers prescribed passages in parts. The influence of Italians spread to other countries. J. Rossini, V.A. Mozart, J. Verdi, R. Strauss.
Here is a list of some famous coloratura opera parts in which you can find roulades:
- J. Puccini "Bohemia" (Museta);
- J. Verdi “La Traviata” (Violetta);
- N. A. Rimsky-Korsakov “The Golden Cockerel” (Queen of Shemakhan);
- J. Rossini "The Barber of Seville" (Rosina);
- V.A. Mozart “The Magic Flute” (Queen of the Night).
In fiction, mention can also be made of passages and musical decorations. Rulada ... This the word is often found in George Sand's novel Consuelo. It is noteworthy that in this work, the author tells about the Italian opera, composers.
Recently, musicians rarely use rulade in serious compositions (symphonies, concerts). Nevertheless, it is still popular in modern vocal, instrumental miniatures.