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Chiaroscuro is an Italian style of singing that combines the light squillo sound with the dark sound of scuro. Used by modern singers to produce a more fluid color with songs. Chiaroscuro is not written in the music as the term wasn’t used until the 18th century, but can be seen in early writings of the 1500s with descriptions that resemble the beginnings of chiaroscuro singing style. Chiaroscuro

Definition: Is a compound Italian word which combines the English translation of light and dark together/ is part of bel canto an originally Italian classical singing technique in which a brilliant sound referred to as squillo is coupled with a dark timbre called scuro, which is often perceived as having great depth or warmth. Chiaroscuro is commonly used in opera

History

Creator: Was created over time by different composers and theorists. There is not a single creator because the term chiaroscuro was never truly used except for the Italian composers but the descriptions for music theorists began to write about tonal preference in a pedagogy concept. Can be believed on descriptions that the ideal sound of chiaroscuro started from virtuoso singing. Some authors such as Zacconi in 1592 would describe their preferred tonal sound in detail that was like chiaroscuro descriptions of singing. Would talk about the different voice qualities the favored the bright ringing of the chest voice. Many artists such as Giulio Caccini would reinforce Zacconi’s beliefs that resemble early descriptions of chiaroscuro. Caccini would write a book that the ideal voice would be ‘a full natural voice, avoiding falsetto, and without being constrained to accommodate himself to others. Many German authors would go on to echo this ideal Italian singing style such as music theorist and composer Michael Praetorius in 1619 in his book Syntagma musicum and in 1642 by Johannes Andreas Herbst. Other musicians, singers, and theorists such as Garaude in the early 19th century, Manuel Garcia in the 17th century- he began delving deeper into the physical changes when singing in the Italian style

early uses: Italian school of singing. It was the ideal voice type quality in the 18th and 19th centuries for classical singers. Was used as early as 1774 in Giambattista Mancini’s Pensieri e riflessioni pratiche sopra il canto figurato- this is a type of vocal learning book that would be later translated into French, German, and English. Giambattista wrote scales that would be practiced slowly in order to practice and master the art of coloring musical phrases with Chiaroscuro. Giovanni Battista Lamperti, was his ideal tonal sound. He believed that the Chiaroscuro tone should always be present when singing. Not really written in music is something that is produced by singers at either their own discretion or can be endorsed by the composers-see history

modern uses: bel canto performances are still done today. we can better identify how to physically produce chiaroscuro. it is still an idealized tone for singer in classical singer/ many professors and composers of the classical genre believe that it is chiaroscuro that sets classical singers apart from modern singers. Richard Miller describes modern chiaroscuro as the “cultivated artistic sound of the highly trained professional singing voice”- a professor at Oberlin College Conservatory of Music.

 how to produce chiaroscuro.

 body parts that are associated with “creating” chiaroscuro. vocal tract and lowering of the larynx . Chiaroscuro is made in the voice through the mix of a ringing brighter sound and a dark, oro-pharngel resonance working in equilibrium. the correct sound a singer will have an open oro-pharynx, a slightly lowered and relaxed larynx, a raised soft palate, a released, forward tongue, and correct breathing support/technique. coordination by the muscle in the vocal folds when it contracts creates the ability for a chest voice (thyroarytenoid muscle) and the lengthening of the cricothyroid muscle that allows for the creation of the head voice

Examples

Franco Corelli- “L’amour… Ah! leve-toi, soleil!” from Roméo et Juliette or “Vesti la Giubba” from Pagliacci

Leontyne Price sings “Chi il bel sogno di Doretta” from La Rondine

Dolores Zajick sings here “O don fatale” from Don Carlo.

Enrico Caruso singing “Recondita armonia” from Tosca

Anything from Maria Calla- “Casta Diva”