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

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

To return a full Answer to this last period, we need only put him in mind of the Proverb, Canes timidi vehementiùs latrant quam mordent, and much good may it do him.

From An Answer to a Scurrilous Pamplet [1693] by Anonymous

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 Josef Hofmann

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 Josef Hofmann