What does sans voce mean?

"Sans voce" is an Italian musical term that means "without voice" or "unvoiced". It's primarily used in vocal music and indicates that a note or passage should be sung or played with a very soft, almost whispered sound.

Here's a breakdown:

* Sans: French for "without"

* Voce: Italian for "voice"

Therefore, "sans voce" literally translates to "without voice."

It's essentially the same as the Italian term "sotto voce," which also means "softly" or "in a low voice."

Example:

If a musical score instructs a singer to sing a particular section "sans voce," it means they should sing it very softly and delicately, almost as if they are whispering.