Let’s Call It A Tenuto Accent, …not just a TENUTO, here’s why… Options

[DomRUK]

A while ago there was a thread on “Tenuto marks”, the horizontal line over a note (at http://forums.abrsm.org/index.php?act=ST&f=1&t=6606 ).

I now have a suggestion not simply on what it means (I like “EMPHASIZE, HOLD, and slightly separate the note”, as it’s not so sudden as an “ACCENT”, and it’s a bit heavier, more ‘placed’ - and also it is firstly HELD, particularly on just one note, and secondly if it is in a series of these notes, they are also separated, as well as being a held sort of emphasized note)

…but a suggestion as to what to call it. Before I thought to call it an “emphasis mark” - and the word emphasis is indeed used by some where there isn’t a name given for it (in Dunn’s “Take Five and pass first time”, p44).

However, SO many people call it a TENUTO, that the word really cannot be avoided (tenuto is Italian for “held”).

If it’s just called a Tenuto mark, then the “held” aspect (which particularly applies when there’s just one note marked this way, rather than lots in a row [where the separation aspect then comes in]) is the main meaning one gets.

If it’s called a “Tenuto Accent”, however,

it’s an accent (first and foremost)

…what sort of accent?

a Tenuto accent – which tells us that it’s a different sort of accent,

…not a sudden accent, but a held accent – which makes good sense as a title for this, to me.

So…

may I suggest:

[picture] A Tenuto Accent – a “held” accent – emphasize, hold, and slightly separate the note.

What do you think?

[If you’ve not come across the confusion caused by all this amongst musicians and students, it may seem like I’m splitting hairs with all this – but I assure you I’m not!]

EDITED SHORTLY AFTER POSTING, TO INCLUDE "HOLD" AFTER "EMPHASIZE" IN THE DEFINITION.

[AnotherPianist]

[If you’ve not come across the confusion caused by all this amongst musicians and students, it may seem like I’m splitting hairs with all this – but I assure you I’m not!]

Not at all, an excellent explanation the clearest I've heard, thankyou :).

[janexxx]

Just been doing some past papers in prep fpr my grade 5 and one of the questions was what did this mark mean in the score. Short of writing "tenuto" for my answer, which I am sure is not enough for the examiner, I was a bit stumped to try and describe it in words.

I wonder what description the examiner would be expecting?

Jane

[DomRUK]

I've edited my post (at the top of this thread) to include "hold" in the definition - see near the top of the post for the reasons.

[Jen W]

Just been doing some past papers in prep fpr my grade 5 and one of the questions was what did this mark mean in the score.  Short of writing "tenuto" for my answer, which I am sure is not enough for the examiner, I was a bit stumped to try and describe it in words.

I wonder what description the examiner would be expecting?

Jane

I came across this one, Jane - I think I put 'tenuto - held, with a slight emphasis' (to cover all bases, just in case!).

This came up in one of my G4 piano pieces and my teacher preferred to decribe it as an emphasis - the notes were also to be played forte, so it was difficult getting the balance right, ie emphasised and loud but not strident - as DomRUK says, "not a sudden accent, but a held accent".

[cecilia]

I remember being very confused about this when I was taking a theory exam once. I think you've clarified it very well, DomRUK- thanks! :)