A soloist is a musician who performs alone, or who plays or sings the special part that stands out from the rest of the group. Two slightly different pictures live inside this one word.

A soloist是指 is a musician who performs alone單獨演出的音樂家, or who plays or sings the special part that stands out from the rest of the group或是演奏、演唱那個從團體中特別突出出來的部分的人。Two slightly different pictures兩種稍微不同的畫面 live inside this one word藏在這一個字裡

Sometimes the soloist really is alone on the stage — one person, one piano, no one else. But more often the soloist is standing in front of a whole orchestra or choir. Everyone plays, and one person plays the part everyone is listening to. That second use is the common one in classical music: the violin soloist has an orchestra of sixty people behind her, so she is not alone at all, and we still call her the soloist.

Sometimes有時候 the soloist really is alone on the stagesoloist真的是一個人站在台上 — one person, one piano, no one else一個人、一台鋼琴，沒有別人。But more often但更常見的情況是 the soloist is standing in front of a whole orchestra or choirsoloist站在整個管弦樂團或合唱團前面。Everyone plays大家都在演奏, and one person plays the part everyone is listening to而有一個人演奏的是大家在聽的那個部分。That second use is the common one in classical music第二種用法才是古典音樂裡常見的: the violin soloist小提琴soloist has an orchestra of sixty people behind her背後有六十人的管弦樂團, so she is not alone at all所以她一點都不孤單, and we still call her the soloist但我們還是叫她soloist

The word also covers singers, so you can be a soloist in a choir — the one member who sings a few lines by herself while the others rest or hum quietly.

The word also covers singers這個字也包含歌手, so you can be a soloist in a choir所以在合唱團裡也可以有soloist — the one member who sings a few lines by herself就是那個獨自唱幾句的團員 while the others rest or hum quietly而其他人休息或輕輕哼唱

In a jazz band, when one player takes a solo for a while and the others keep the rhythm going, we usually say 'he's taking a solo' rather than calling him the soloist; 'soloist' feels more classical, more like a printed concert programme.

In a jazz band在爵士樂團裡, when one player takes a solo for a while當一位樂手獨奏一段 and the others keep the rhythm going其他人繼續打節奏時, we usually say 'he's taking a solo'我們通常會說「he's taking a solo」 rather than calling him the soloist而不會叫他soloist; 'soloist' feels more classical「soloist」這個字感覺比較古典, more like a printed concert programme比較像印在音樂會節目單上的用字

It is a neutral, slightly formal word — you would see it on a poster or in a newspaper review, not usually in casual conversation. And it carries a little weight: calling someone a soloist suggests they are good enough to be trusted alone, which is why musicians say things like 'she's a soloist now' with a bit of pride.

It is a neutral, slightly formal word這是一個中性、稍微正式的字 — you would see it on a poster or in a newspaper review你會在海報或報紙的樂評上看到, not usually in casual conversation通常不會出現在輕鬆的對話裡。And it carries a little weight而且它帶有一點份量: calling someone a soloist叫某人soloist suggests they are good enough to be trusted alone暗示他已經好到可以被信任獨當一面, which is why musicians say things like 'she's a soloist now' with a bit of pride這就是為什麼音樂家會帶著點驕傲說「she's a soloist now」