Tenuto in Classical Music: Examples and Analysis

📚 Quick Study Guide

• 🎶 Tenuto (Italian for 'held') indicates a note should be sustained for its full value.
• 🎼 Unlike an accent, it doesn't necessarily mean the note is louder, just held longer.
• ✍️ It's represented by a short horizontal line above or below the note.
• 🎹 Tenuto can subtly alter the phrasing and character of a musical passage.
• 🎻 The effect can vary based on the instrument and the performer's interpretation.
• 🎵 Consider the surrounding notes and the overall musical context when interpreting a tenuto marking.
• 💡 Think of it as 'leaning' slightly on the note.

Practice Quiz

1. What does 'tenuto' mean in Italian?
   1. A. Short
   2. B. Held
   3. C. Loud
   4. D. Fast
2. What is the primary effect of a tenuto marking on a note?
   1. A. It makes the note shorter.
   2. B. It makes the note louder.
   3. C. It makes the note longer.
   4. D. It makes the note quieter.
3. What symbol represents a tenuto?
   1. A. A dot above the note
   2. B. A short horizontal line above or below the note
   3. C. A curved line connecting two notes
   4. D. A vertical line through the note stem
4. Which of the following is NOT typically associated with a tenuto marking?
   1. A. Sustaining the note's full value
   2. B. A change in phrasing
   3. C. Increased volume
   4. D. Subtle emphasis
5. How should a performer typically interpret a tenuto marking?
   1. A. As an instruction to play the note very loudly
   2. B. As an instruction to cut the note short
   3. C. As an instruction to 'lean' slightly on the note, sustaining its full value
   4. D. As an instruction to play the note very softly
6. What is the most important thing to consider when interpreting a tenuto marking?
   1. A. The performer's personal preference
   2. B. The color of the ink used in the score
   3. C. The surrounding notes and musical context
   4. D. The date the music was composed
7. Which articulation marking is the *most* different from tenuto?
   1. A. Staccato
   2. B. Accent
   3. C. Legato
   4. D. Marcato