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The word is also used for the act of performing a solo, and sometimes for the performer (more often a ''soloist''). The plural is 'soli' or 'solos'. In some context these are interchangeable, but 'soli' tends to be restricted to classical music, and tends to refer to either the solo performers or the solo passages in a single piece: it would not often be used to refer to several pieces that happen to be for single performers. CLASSICAL MUSIC Solo pieces A piece written for a single performer is referred to as a ''solo'', often qualified by instrument, as '' Piano solo'' or '' Flute solo''. These are common for Polyphonic Instrument s such as the Piano , Organ , Harpsichord or Harp . Monophonic Instrument s such as Flute s or Violin s are more often accompanied by piano or other instruments, but there are still plenty of solo works for such instruments, such as the Violin Partita s and the Cello Suite s of J S Bach . ''Solo'' is not usually part of title of a piece, except sometimes in a phrase such as '... for piano solo'. Concertos See Also: Concerto A Concerto is a piece for one, or sometimes several, instrumental performers together with an Orchestra : the distinguished part is referred to as the ''solo'' (''soli'' or ''solos'' if there are several). Although there may be passages where only the ''soloist'' is playing, generally the solo part is accompanied by the orchestra: its distinctiveness and prominence are what makes it a ''solo''. Solo passages In a similar way to a Concerto , any ensemble piece may have portions where one or other instrumentalist is particularly prominent, and these are often referred to as ''solos''. Solos in a section The Strings in an Orchestra are usually grouped in ''sections'', where several players are playing the same music most of the time. But sometimes the music will direct that only one player in the section is to play, or that one player in the section is to play something different from the rest of the section. These are also referred to as solos. Vocal and Choral music All the types of solo mentioned above in instrumental music have their parallels in vocal and Choral music. There are pieces for Solo Singer s, possibly accompanied; there are pieces for soloist and chorus (like Concertos , but that word is not usually used); and there are solo passages in choral works. JAZZ See Also: Jazz In many Jazz performances, each number will alternate ensemble sections with solo sections where one performer is playing either completely alone, or with unobtrusive accompaniment from the others. Common examples are the rhythm section of jazz bands, and quiet background music by other wind instruments. Such solos are often improvised. SEE ALSO |
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