In
musical notation
Musical notation is any system used to visually represent music. Systems of notation generally represent the elements of a piece of music that are considered important for its performance in the context of a given musical tradition. The proce ...
, ''tenuto'' (
Italian, past participle of ''tenere'', "to hold"), written as a horizontal bar above or below a note, is a direction for the performer to hold or sustain a note for its full length.
Its precise interpretation can be somewhat contextual in practice, especially when combined with dynamic directions affecting loudness. In that case, it can mean either ''accent the note in question by holding it to its full length (or longer, with slight
rubato)'', or ''play the note slightly louder''. In other words, the ''tenuto'' mark may alter the length of a note at the same time a dynamic mark adjusts its volume. Either way, the tenuto marking indicates that a note should receive some degree of emphasis.
Tenuto is one of the earliest directions to appear in music notation.
Notker of St. Gall (c. 840–912) discusses the use of the letter ''t'' in
plainsong
Plainsong or plainchant (calque from the French ; ) is a body of chants used in the liturgies of the Western Church. When referring to the term plainsong, it is those sacred pieces that are composed in Latin text. Plainsong was the exclusive for ...
notation as meaning ''trahere vel tenere debere'' in one of his letters.
The mark's meaning may also be affected when it appears in conjunction with other durational articulations. When it appears with a
staccato
Staccato (; Italian for "detached") is a form of Articulation (music), musical articulation. In modern notation, it signifies a note of shortened duration, separated from the note that may follow by silence. It has been described by theorists and ...
dot, it means
non legato or detached.
Notation
''Tenuto'' is notated three ways:
#The word ''tenuto'' written above the passage to be played ''tenuto''.
#The abbreviation ''ten.'' written above the note or passage to be played ''tenuto''.
#A horizontal line, roughly the length of a notehead, placed immediately above or below the note to be played ''tenuto''.
::
See also
*
Modern musical symbols
References
*David Fallows, "Tenuto." ''Grove Music Online'' ed. L. Macy. (Accessed 15 May 2006
Articulations (music)
Italian words and phrases
Rhythm and meter
{{Musical notation, state=uncollapsed