Roulades

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A sequence of swift, decorative musical figures that embellish melodies with rapid note changes and ornate patterns
2. Rapidly executed, ornamental vocal or instrumental passages that create a lively and embellished musical effect through agile notes
3. A series of quick, decorative musical flourishes that enhance melodies by incorporating rapid note transitions and intricate rhythms

Etymology: "Roulades" is the plural of "roulade," which French borrowed as a term for a rolled dish, such as a thin slice of meat wrapped around a filling. The French word comes from "rouler," meaning "to roll," which descends from the Old French "roler." The musical sense is a later extension: a run of quick, ornamental notes that rolls up or down the scale, much like a rolled-up piece of food unspooling. The leap from cookery to music is the surprising part. A vocal flourish that tumbles through a sequence of notes in one breath shares the same rolling motion as the kitchen dish, so the image of something wound around and unwound carried over into song. The plural form in the entry refers to several such flourishes, which singers and composers often use to decorate a melody before it settles on its final note.

Synonyms: trills, runs, flourishes