Le chant bien soutenu: meaning and use in music

Le chant bien soutenu means 'the melody well sustained': carry the melodic line with support, connection and direction, and write the complete French phrase in full.

FR le chant bien soutenu voicing and balance common Support my free tools

How is le chant bien soutenu played?

Sustain the melodic layer through the whole phrase, avoiding gaps between notes and keeping energy across long values. Let le chant identify the melody, bien strengthen the degree and soutenu govern its continuity. The direction does not automatically require one legato articulation, pedal, extra loudness, tempo change or fixed physical technique; use the means appropriate to the instrument and surrounding notation.

How does le chant bien soutenu sound?

The melody is heard as a continuous, well-supported singing line.

In context

French music dictionaries identify chant as melody or singing and soutenu as sustained or held. A published Ravel score writes le chant bien soutenu et expressif in full and treats sustained melody and expression as linked but distinct qualities. No exact abbreviation for the complete phrase met the threshold.

Equivalent terms

  • EN well-supported melody
  • DA sanglinjen godt båret

Music theory and score context

See also

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