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; see -ent

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

mordent

Of these the mordent, almost identical with the modern Pralltriller, was in most frequent use.

From Memories of a Musical Life by William Mason

Running over the leaves, he came to the illustrations of the mordent.

From Memories of a Musical Life by William Mason

The last note of the mordent should be accented in this case.

From Piano Playing: With Piano Questions Answered by Josef Hofmann

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 Josef Hofmann

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

From Robert Elsmere by Mrs. Humphry Ward

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