mordent

American  

[mawr-dnt] / ˈmɔr dnt /

Or mordant

noun

Music.

1. a melodic embellishment consisting of a rapid alternation of a principal tone with the tone a half or a whole step below it, called single or short when the auxiliary tone occurs once and double or long when this occurs twice or more.

2. inverted mordent.

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mordent British  

/ ˈmɔːdənt /

noun

1. Also called: lower mordent.  music a melodic ornament consisting of the rapid alternation of a note with a note one degree lower than it

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Etymology

Origin of mordent

1800–10; < German < Italian mordente biting < Latin mordent-, stem of mordēns, present participle of mordēre to bite; -ent

Example Sentences

The Fingers Needed to Play a Mordent When executing the mordent, is not the use of three fingers preferable to two?

From Piano Playing: With Piano Questions Answered by Hofmann, Josef

I afterward found that when three pianists came together for the purpose of playing this concerto a good deal of time was wasted in discussing the proper way of playing the mordent.

From Memories of a Musical Life by Mason, William

And he tightened his arms round her, happy once more for a mordent in this environment of a perfect love.

From Robert Elsmere by Ward, Humphry, Mrs.

Fingers, position of, 6. the other, 16. fourth and fifth, 16. weak, 18. broad-tipped, 20. needed to play a mordent, 28.

From Piano Playing: With Piano Questions Answered by Hofmann, Josef

The selection of the fingers for the execution of a mordent depends always upon the preceding notes or keys which lead up to it.

From Piano Playing: With Piano Questions Answered by Hofmann, Josef