Italian to English translations [PRO] Art/Literary - Music
Italian term or phrase:canto disteso
I can't think of a set musical term for this, so can I have your suggestions as to how you would translate it? Or, if there is a term that is escaping me, please let me know. Many thanks in advance!
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Local time: 06:51
Clarification request(s) and response
Ioanna Karamanou: 07:17 Oct 9, 2006: Does anyone think it means "relaxed melody"? Here is the context:
Una reciproca attrazione tra palpitazione e canto disteso, attraversa e connota XXX, per undici strumenti.
That's how I read it, in the end. Ioanna Karamanou: 07:30 Oct 9, 2006: In the end, I think it is referring to the melody. It is referring to an instrumental piece, decribing it in a short review. There is not much more context to that specific sentence, but the whole context of the review, where much is said of the piece's elements of contrast, led me to conclude that it is referring to the melody in this instance. Ioanna Karamanou: 08:00 Oct 9, 2006: And more importantly, I think it fits because of the distinction between melody and rhythm.
It's not clear to me either whether text refers to vocal or melodic here but if we're speaking about the musical 'canto' as something that hovers over the rhythmic base you could use something like this.
By George, I thik she's got it! Thank you...sustained pause in the brain here... expansive melody... brilliant! 4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer
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Explanation: Questa definizione mi sembra leggermente più precisa e aderente al contesto della frase, anche se la definizione di Victor potrebbe andar bene ugualmente: si tratta di sfumature.
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 5 hrs (2006-10-09 07:23:54 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
"Una reciproca attrazione tra palpitazione e canto disteso,
attraversa e connota XXX, per undici strumenti."
In this sentence they just mention instruments but it's not enough to judge.Can we have a bit more context, please? It may be possible that they mean a tension between the orchestra and the singing.
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 6 hrs (2006-10-09 07:48:43 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
Yes, 'relaxed melody' is fine not just because melody refers to mood and singing, but even better, it can be used for both instruments and singing
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 6 hrs (2006-10-09 08:10:19 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
And more importantly, I think it fits because of the distinction between melody and rhythm.
Yes, I agree. Judging by what you wrote the main theme of this review is contrast, so I suppose you could say in music rhythm and melody might be seen as opposed and complementary. But you are the best judge as we haven't read the text.
Explanation: ... "Canto disteso" doesn't just seem to apply to Lyrical music but to all kinds of singing, that is why I wrote "vocal sound"... alternatively you could say "relaxed singing" but somehow it sounds strange.
Is also widely used within the music field and often italian terms in music are kept in italian even when shown on a music score (ie: Pianissimo, Fortissimo, Moderato, Moderato andante.. etc), so I wouldn't entirely reject the idea of keeping it as "canto disteso"
I hope this helps
clarinet3 Italy Local time: 12:51 Works in field Native speaker of: Italian, English
It's not clear to me either whether text refers to vocal or melodic here but if we're speaking about the musical 'canto' as something that hovers over the rhythmic base you could use something like this.
The translation workplace 
