Passaggi

Passaggi is the plural of passaggio, an Italian term used in music and vocal pedagogy to describe passages and transitions. In general usage, the word denotes a passage or crossing from one point to another, and in musical contexts it can refer both to short melodic or rhythmic fragments and to transitional moments within a piece.

As a musical term, passaggi can denote short passages or runs that connect larger ideas within a composition. They may be ornamental figures, scalar sequences, arpeggios, or rapid note groups that musicians practice to develop technique, precision, and control. In this sense, passaggi are part of the craft of performance, contributing to phrasing, articulation, and overall cohesion of a line or passage.

In vocal technique, passaggio refers specifically to the transition or bridge between vocal registers. Singers typically encounter one or more passaggi as the voice shifts from chest voice to head voice (and sometimes to a mixed or middle register). The number and location of passaggi vary by voice type (for example, soprano, mezzo-soprano, alto, tenor, baritone, bass) and individual timbre. Effective training aims to render these transitions smooth and even, often by developing a balanced mix across the break, adjusting resonance and vowel shape, and employing breath support and precise vowel modification.

Historically, the concept has been central to bel canto and later vocal pedagogy, emphasizing seamless connectivity across the range and consistent tonal quality. Beyond singing, passaggi can also describe musical passages or sections within a score, or broader uses of the term in Italian to mean passages or transitions in other contexts.