Articulations, dynamics, and text
Articulations
Use parentheses. Square brackets have other jobs, including chords and changes of musical context.
| Type | Mark |
|---|---|
| Staccato | (.) |
| Staccatissimo | (..) |
| Accent | (>) |
| Tenuto | (-) |
| Marcato | (^) |
| Portato | (.-) |
| Fermata | (!) |
| Breath | (,) |
| Caesura | (caesura) |
(.)4C5 (..)D (>)E (-)F | (^)4G (.-)F (!)2E
Canonical spelling
(.)4C5 (..)D (>)E (-)F | (^)G (.-)F (!)2E
Several articulations may share a group, such as (>.). An articulation normally belongs to one note. Its side follows the engraving rules for the staff and voices; moving it before or after the pitch is not a general manual placement command for articulations.
Breaths and caesuras mark a point in the phrase without adding a written rest duration.
4C5 D E F(,) | 2G(caesura) 2r
Canonical spelling
4C5 D E (,)F | 2G(caesura) r
Repeat an articulation
(sim) continues the articulation in force. (non) ends that run. Rests receive no articulation and do not by themselves end a run. An explicit new articulation group interrupts it.
(-)4C5 (sim)D E F | (non)4G F E D
Canonical spelling
(-)4C5 (sim)D E F | (non)G F E D
Dynamics and expression
Common dynamics include (ppp), (pp), (p), (mp), (mf), (f), (ff), (fff), and (sfz). A dynamic stays in force until another changes it. Expression words include (dolce) and (cresc). Use a quoted string for your own text, such as ("sul pont.").
For dynamics, expression, and text, before the node means above the staff; after the node means below. Touch the intended node to avoid ambiguous attachment. A detached floating mark binds left.
| Source | Placement and attachment |
|---|---|
4C5(p) D E F | Below C |
4C5 (p)D E F | Above D |
4C5 (p) D E F | Detached; binds left, below C |
4C5(pp "softly") D E F | (mf)2G 2E(dolce)
Canonical spelling
4C5(pp "softly") D E F | (mf)2G E(dolce)
One parenthesized group prints as one line. Put the dynamic and description together when you want them together. ((p)) is an editorial dynamic, printed with an enclosure.
Ornaments and tremolo
(tr) marks a trill, (mord) a mordent, (turn) a turn, and (iturn) an inverted turn. For a trill extending over several notes, use a trill line.
4C5(tr) D(mord) E(turn) F(iturn)
Canonical spelling
4C5(tr) D(mord) E(turn) F(iturn)
(trem), (trem2), and (trem3) select stem tremolo marks. (z) marks a buzz roll. These are single-note marks; they do not spell an alternating two-note tremolo.
2C5(trem2) 2D(trem3)
Canonical spelling
2C5(trem2) D(trem3)
Printing an ornament does not guarantee a particular sampled performance. Check the sound you intend to deliver.