Articulation Explored (Junior Cert Music): Revision Notes

Articulation Explored

What is Articulation?

• Articulation describes how a note is played, affecting the expression and mood of the music.
• It affects the note's length, connection to other notes, and overall expression.

Key Articulation Markings Explored:

1. Accents
2. Legato
3. Staccato
4. Tenuto
5. Fermata

Accents

• An accent on a note tells the performer that they must emphasise that note.
• They are drawn above or below the note head, depending on the directing of the stem.
• Accent symbols never touch the note head or stem.
  • When a note's stem points downwards, accent symbols are written above the note head.
  • When a note's stem points upwards, the accent symbol is written below the note head.

Legato

• Legato markings on music mean that notes should be played smoothly.
• Legato is often indicated using a curved line called a slur.
• The slur is placed above or below two or more notes of different pitch.
• Notes within the curved line of the slur should be played smoothly and joined together.
• Drawing slurs:
  • The slur symbol never touches a note head or stem.
  • When the stem of the note points downwards, the slur symbol is written above the note heads.
  • When the stem of the note points upwards, the slur symbol is written below the note heads.

Staccato

• Staccato markings mean that notes should be played short and detached.
• This symbol is a small dot placed above or below the note head.
• Drawing staccato marks:
  • Staccato marks never touch the note head.
  • When the stem of the note points downwards, the dot is placed above the note head.
  • When the stem points upwards, the dot is placed below the notehead.

Tenuto

• A tenuto mark tells the performer to hold the note for its full value.
• It is a short horizontal line placed above or below the note, depending on the direction of the stem.
• Tenuto helps give the note a slight weight or emphasis, making it sound more deliberate or connected in the phrase.

Fermata

• A fermata (also called a pause) tells the performer to hold the note longer than its written value.
• It looks like a small arc with a dot underneath and is placed above or below the note.
• Fermatas often appear at the end of a phrase or section, allowing the music to pause for dramatic effect.
• In orchestral scores, fermatas are used so that all players keep playing their note until the conductor indicates that they should stop.

Why is Articulation Important?

• Articulation changes the way notes sound, making them short and crisp, smooth and connected, or strong and emphasised.
• Makes a melody more interesting.
• Helps express emotions in music.
• Used in listening tasks to describe music and in performance to shape sound.
• Examples
  • 🎵 Coldplay – Viva La Vida uses staccato strings to create an energetic rhythm.
  • 🎵 Ludwig van Beethoven – Symphony No. 5 uses accents for dramatic effect.

How to Describe Articulation in Listening Tasks

• Listen for how the notes are played.
• Are they short and detached (staccato) or smooth and connected (legato)?
• Do some notes sound stronger (accents) or held for their full length (tenuto)?
• Describe the articulation using the correct terms.
• Examples:
  • The staccato strings in Viva La Vida make the rhythm lively and energetic.
  • In Beethoven's Symphony No. 5, the accents ( > ) make the notes sound strong and dramatic.