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

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

mordent

Where the Accent Should be Placed In playing Chopin's Impromptu in A-flat, Opus 29, should the first or the last note of the mordent receive the accent?

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

Pg 71 The accent ought to lie upon the first note of the mordent, but you should not make a triplet of it by occupying the whole quarter with its execution.

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

I have heard the mordent sound like a triplet?

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

The primal instincts of his nature had obtained ascendency for a mordent.

From An Original Belle by Roe, Edward Payson