Meaning & use
Sprechgesang
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A vocal technique between speaking and singing, in which pitch is only approximated while rhythm remains precise.
See it in a sentence
Schoenberg used sprechgesang extensively in his composition 'Pierrot Lunaire.'
The singer's eerie sprechgesang added a haunting, theatrical quality to the piece.
A note on using this word
The term comes directly from German, literally meaning 'speech-song,' and is closely associated with early 20th-century expressionist music.
Words with a similar meaning
spoken song
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