Tenuto vs Legato - Whats the difference?

[srdabney]

Sorry if this is basic, but ...

Does anyone have an opinion as to the subtle differences between playing tenuto and playing legato?

My limited understanding is that tenuto is a note played its full marked value, but detached from next played tone, rather than carrying the full tone from first note through to second in legato.
Its always irritated me that my tenutos sound like legatos ...

Many Thanks
S.R.D

[L.K.]

Hrm...I think tenuto is more like stretching the note lenght or something, it does not necessarily mean legato. But don't listen to me, I know nothing about nothing.

[bernhard]

“The opposite of staccatto may be shown by the word tenuto (often abbreviated to ten.). Any notes to which this direction applies are to be held for their full time value and not shortened in any way. (In some circumstances, tenuto may even imply a slight lengthening, occasionally even a short pause; these however are not the normal implications of the term).”
(Eric Taylor – The AB guide to music theory – Part I)

It seems to me that tenuto applies to a single note, while legato would apply for a sequence of notes (e.g., a phrase)

[srdabney]

Many thanks for the replies ...
To better 'phrase' my question ... when playing a phrase marked tenuto (e.g. Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto #1 - 1st Movement, measure 6), do you connect the notes, or should there be a slight moment of disconnection (although taking no 'time' from the measure) before the next note is struck?

Should there be a perceptable difference between my tenuto and my legato ? I tend to play this legato, esp. with the pedal indication for the concerto ... but is it really meant to sound legato ? Or perhaps quasi legato?

Thanks again ...
Scott