solostemme

Solostemme is a term used in some choral and vocal scores to denote a single melodic line assigned to a solo singer rather than to the entire choir. In scores that employ multiple vocal lines, solostemme indicates that one voice part should be sung by a soloist, distinguishing it from the tutti or ensemble parts. The designation can apply to any vocal range (soprano, alto, tenor, or bass) depending on tessitura and the musical context.

Notation and practice: Solostemme can be marked directly on the staff or in the header of a system, sometimes appearing as "solostemme" or simply "solo" to indicate a change from the choral texture to a solo line. In practice, performers may follow a reduced accompaniment while a single voice carries the principal melodic line, or a small group may perform the solo if a single singer is unavailable.

Etymology and usage: The term derives from a combination of words meaning "solo" and "voice" found in several Germanic- and Scandinavian-language musical traditions. In some editions, similar concepts are labeled as "solist" or "solo" but the specific phrase "solostemme" remains more common in Nordic scores and in older German-language editions.

Historical context: Although the concept of a solo voice within a choral part has long been standard, explicit use of the term solostemme is most often encountered in historical editions or contemporary scores that aim to preserve original language markings, particularly in choral works from the Baroque through Romantic periods and in some pedagogical materials.

See also: solo, soloist, voice part, aria, choral arrangement.