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Topic: Articulations  (Read 936 times)

Offline nadapez

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Articulations
on: August 23, 2022, 11:52:13 PM
Hello, I am confused about the different articulations used in piano music. I made this image with the abstract of the articulations I have seen, with the names I suppose is given. Please correct me if I am wrong.



I only understand well the legato and stacatto.

I have an idea of what tenuto is, but I am not sure.

I want to understand the difference among tenuto, portato and tenuto-stacatto.

The last three articulations I have seen them in Pavana... by Ravel.

Last but not least I want to know what kind of articulation is supposed to be used when there is no indication.


Thank you a lot.

Offline andrewuk

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Re: Articulations
Reply #1 on: August 24, 2022, 01:33:34 PM
Small point: it's staccato, not stacatto.

Offline lelle

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Re: Articulations
Reply #2 on: August 25, 2022, 07:41:55 PM
Staccatissimo = shorter and sharper staccato than normal staccato. Almost like an accent in some cases.

With tenuto, tenuto staccato and portato it can vary a bit with the context. With Tenuto marks only I'd think of them as slight accents in a legato, so that the notes sound slightly separated/distinct from each other, not just bound into one gesture. Think of it maybe as three down bows instead of playing three notes in one bow on a violin, but still connected.

Tenuto staccato I'd read as the same but with shorter notes, but not too short.

Portato with the slur is also shorter notes but not staccato. There is more of a feeling of one line even if the notes are separated, but the notes are not made distinct like when you think in accents.

Don't know if that helps.

Offline ignomike

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Re: Articulations
Reply #3 on: August 26, 2022, 08:39:55 PM
I could be wrong here but isn't the tenuto marking more often intended as a marcato (half-accent), especially in more modern piano music? My understanding is that the tenuto is more at home on string instruments but the composer and context are relevant to the distinction. I would always consider the tenuto + dot sign as a semi-tenuto like you described.

Offline anacrusis

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Re: Articulations
Reply #4 on: August 27, 2022, 10:35:23 PM
^That's my understanding of it.
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