Coloratura
Coloratura (an Italian word) denotes a fast, ornamental note sequence in singing. Several notes are sung on a single syllable of text, often as a run, a leaping figure or a chain of trills. The word goes back to colouring: the melody is, as it were, coloured in.
- Hallmark
- many fast notes on one syllable
- Forms
- run, leaping figure, chain of trills
- Voice type
- coloratura soprano
- Related
- melisma, fioritura, roulade
Many notes, one syllable
In singing, normally every syllable carries one note. In coloratura it is different: a syllable is sung on several, often many fast notes. These can be runs, leaping figures or chains of trills. From the basic meaning “colouring” the present sense has developed, which puts the technical agility of the voice in the foreground.
A run: a short example of our own
Sixteen notes on a rising and falling line, followed by a long note. In a vocal piece all sixteen notes would be sung on one syllable before the word moves on.
A leaping figure: wide intervals at a quick tempo
Instead of stepwise motion the voice leaps between the notes of the triad. That demands agility of the voice and precise intonation.
In the glossary: Coloration · Fioritura · Trill
Distinctions
- Melisma: the word means generally several notes on one syllable. Coloratura is an agile, virtuoso form of it.
- Instrumental run: similar figures exist for instruments too, but there breath and vowel do not determine the execution.
- Coloration: the practice of embellishing an existing melody, whereas coloratura is the finished note sequence.
As a voice-type designation, coloratura soprano means a voice oriented to such parts. A famous coloratura aria is the aria of the Queen of the Night from Mozart's “Die Zauberflöte”, whose top note is the F6.
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Related terms
Coloration (melodic embellishment)FiorituraRouladeTrillChain trillGorgiaMelisma
Editor: Maik Krohm · reviewed on 3 October 2026
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