mordent

articulationMOR-dentfrom Italian

An ornament consisting of a rapid alternation between a note and the note immediately below it.‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‍‌

In Depth

A mordent is a rapid ornament consisting of the main note, the note below, and a return to the main note.‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‍‌ It adds a quick snap or bite to a note. The upper mordent (also called an inverted mordent or pralltriller) alternates with the note above instead. In Baroque music, mordents were part of a rich vocabulary of ornaments that performers were expected to add even when not explicitly written. The speed of a mordent depends on the tempo and style of the piece — in slow movements, it may be leisurely, while in fast passages it is almost instantaneous. C.P.E. Bach's treatise on keyboard playing provides detailed instruction on ornament execution.

Did you know?

The mordent's name comes from the Latin mordere (to bite) — the ornament takes a quick bite at the main note before returning, adding a flash of energy.

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accent

A stress or emphasis placed on a particular note.

acciaccatura

A very short grace note played as quickly as possible before the main note.

acciaccatura explained

A very short ornamental note played as quickly as possible before the main note, taking no perceptible time

appoggiatura

A grace note that takes time from the following main note, creating a brief dissonance.

appoggiatura explained

An ornamental note that falls on the beat, creating a dissonance that resolves by step to the main note

arco

An instruction to return to bowing after a pizzicato passage.

articulation marks

Symbols placed above or below notes to indicate how they should be attacked, sustained, and released

detaché

Separate bow strokes for each note, but without the shortness of staccato.

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