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15:10 Nov 16, 2009
This question was closed without grading. Reason: Answer found elsewhere
German to English translations [PRO] Art/Literary - Music / Classical
German term or phrase:Gesangphrase
I'm working on a Japanese>English translation on a contemporary piece for orchestra, but Gesangphrase is the only translation I can find for the term in question (旋律楽句 - which literally means 'melodic phrase' but I suspect has a more technical meaning).
The musical section in question is a multi-layered heterophony of reed woodwinds and strings.
Does Gesangphrase just mean something like 'sung phrase' or is it more specific?
I should point out that virtually ALL the Japanese usage of this term I can find appears with the gloss 'Gesangphrase', so it is clearly a German>Japanese coinage.
The problem you are dealing with partially, is that many musical terms used in English come from other languages. The term you have describes a phrase which is voiced, or given a melody, as opposed to spoken for example. The churches use this quite often. It is also similar to chanting, or "plainsong." So, basically, depending on the rest of the content, you are right in calling it a "melodic phrase." I should point out that the term "Gesangphrase" is not recognized on a superficial scan of the web.There may be another technical term for this as well. Hopefully someone more voiced in music will be able to help.
What language(s) are we dealing with here? The original is Japanese, for which you have found a translation which is German (Gesangphrase - almost certainly Gesangsphrase) but which in English means "melodic phrase"??? If we're talking about German: Gesangsphrase could only be used absolutely specifically in a singing context, i.e. not in orchestral music. "Melodic phrase" usually refers to a single line of melody - like a singing voice, which is presumably where the German word comes from; if the texture is a "heterophonic" orchestral sound, then the word seems less appropriate. But you'll probably have to go via Japanese-English to find the true meaning, if there is one!
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Answers
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cantabile
Explanation: Gesangphrase in music actually means you need to play as an "Atembogen" phrase, normally marked by a legato.
For any instrument, even for piano (actually percussive), the word "cantabile" (it.) is used, which literary means singing-like, to suggest the long, endless line, wihtout any cut in between, like a whole breath of a singer.
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 5 hrs (2009-11-16 20:13:02 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
thank you to all comments, esp. the adding of "phrase", "phrasing", or "section" for a noun, if needed.
Example sentence(s):
Cantabile is a musical term meaning literally "singable" or "songlike" (Italian). It has several meanings in different contexts. In instrumental music, it indicates a particular style of playing designed to imitate the human voice.
The translation workplace 
peer agreement (net): +3
