singing tone

The quality of piano sound that most closely imitates the sustained, inflected delivery of the human voice — considered the highest ideal of piano playing in the early 19th century. Kuhlau's sonatinas are particularly rich in cantabile melody, and developing a singing tone is one of the principal educational aims of his teaching repertoire.

A singing tone requires controlled key depression (not striking), voicing (the melody slightly above the accompaniment), and careful pedalling to connect notes that the fingers cannot quite hold. Listen to singers: the melody should breathe, intensify on stressed syllables, and taper at phrase ends. Playing Kuhlau well means pretending the piano can sustain.