Meaning of "Echappée" in Music
In music, the term "echappée" refers to a type of non-chord tone or embellishing tone. It is a melodic ornamental tone that follows a principal tone by a step above or below and then "leaves" by a skip. The echappée is considered an incomplete neighbor tone, unaccented, and is typically preceded by a step (usually up) from a chord tone and followed by a leap. It adds a decorative element to the melody and provides a momentary departure from the main harmonic structure of the composition.
The concept of non-chord tones, including echappée, is often discussed in the context of the common practice period of classical music. However, they can also be used in the analysis of other types of tonal music, such as Western popular music.
Overall, the echappée serves as a melodic embellishment that adds interest and variation to the music, creating a sense of tension and release as it departs from and returns to the main harmonic framework
"Escaped note"; an ornamentation between notes proceeding in a step-wise fashion in which the ornamental note will go the opposite way of the progression, followed by the proper note in the progression.
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