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Remembering the great Maurizio Pollini
Legendary pianist Maurizio Pollini defined modern piano playing through a combination of virtuosity of the highest degree, a complete sense of musical purpose and commitment that works in complete control of the virtuosity. His passing was announced by Milan’s La Scala opera house on March 23. Read more >>

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Topic: Breath Mark (Read 315 times)

leigh anne

PS Silver Member
Full Member
Posts: 166

Breath Mark

on: July 13, 2022, 01:54:15 PM

What is a breath mark? Is it a rest or what?

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"Music speaks what cannot be expressed, soothes the mind and gives it rest, heals the heart and makes it whole, flows from heaven to the soul"

quantum

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Posts: 6223

Re: Breath Mark

Reply #1 on: July 13, 2022, 03:48:04 PM

Think of a person that speaks in a monotone voice, with no inflection or distinction between words. Think of a person that speaks so fast and can seemingly go on for ages without ever stopping to take in more air. Think of a document with run-on sentences that last for an entire page and mix so many ideas together the reader does not know where one starts and another ends. These scenarios would be analogues to music that does not contain a breath.

A breath mark is exactly what it says it is, a breath. Just as we breathe when we speak to clarify our words, to create natural pauses in our sentences for punctuation, and distinguish between various ideas, we must also do the same in music.

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Made a Liszt. Need new Handel's for Soler panel & Alkan foil. Will Faure Stein on the way to pick up Mendels' sohn. Josquin get Wolfgangs Schu with Clara. Gone Chopin, I'll be Bach

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