What is a glissando?

A glissando is a technique that involves gliding or sliding from one pitch to another. This can be executed on various instruments, such as the piano or guitar, and is often used to create a smooth and expressive transition between notes.

The distinctive characteristic of a glissando lies in its continuous movement between the notes, which contrasts sharply with more abrupt or defined intervals. This technique adds a rich, fluid quality to the music, making it particularly prevalent in genres where expressiveness is key, such as jazz and certain styles of classical music.

In contrast, the other options suggest different musical techniques that don’t accurately define a glissando. For instance, rapid scale runs involve quickly playing a series of ascending or descending notes, which lacks the sliding feature inherent to a glissando. Musical modulation refers to changing keys within a piece, while vocal harmonization involves singers performing different notes simultaneously for a fuller sound. Thus, none encapsulate the essence of sliding between notes as clearly as the correct definition does.