fermata

articulationfair-MAH-tahfrom Italian

A pause sign indicating a note or rest should be held beyond its normal value.

In Depth

The fermata, also called a bird's eye or hold, is a semicircle with a dot placed above or below a note or rest. It tells the performer to hold the note longer than its written value — exactly how long is left to the performer's judgment and musical taste. In solo music, the fermata gives the performer freedom to linger on an expressive moment. In ensemble music, it requires the conductor's guidance to coordinate the release. A fermata over a rest creates a moment of silence, which can be just as powerful as a held note. Beethoven used fermatas dramatically to create suspense before unexpected harmonic turns.
Did you know?

When jazz musicians see a fermata, they call it a bird's eye or a railroad tracks. In a jazz context, it often signals a moment for collective improvisation.

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