Meaning of "Lunga" in Music
In music, the term "lunga" is a shortened form of the Italian phrase "lunga pausa," which translates to "long pause" in English. It is sometimes added above a fermata symbol to indicate a longer duration, the length of which is at the discretion of the performer rather than note values.
A fermata is a musical symbol placed over a note or rest to be extended beyond its normal duration, indicating a pause of indefinite duration. The addition of "lunga" above a fermata suggests an even longer pause than usual, allowing the performer to hold the note or rest for a more extended period of time.
It is worth noting that some modern composers have expanded the usage of the fermata symbol to indicate approximate duration. They incorporate fermatas of different sizes, square- and triangle-shaped fermatas, and other variations to indicate holds of different lengths. However, this expanded usage is not considered standard.
To summarize, "lunga" in music refers to a longer pause indicated by the addition of the term above a fermata symbol, allowing the performer to hold the note or rest for a more extended period of time.
A mark placed above a note or a rest to indicate that it is to be held longer than the music would otherwise indicate.
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