Meaning of Slur in Music
In music, a **slur** is a symbol in Western musical notation that indicates that the notes it embraces are to be played without separation, with a legato articulation. It is denoted by a curved line placed over or under the notes, depending on the direction of the stems. The primary functions of a slur in music are to delineate the extent of a phrase line and to indicate the legato performance of melodies or arpeggiated chords ).
A slur is a curved line that connects two or more notes of different pitches. It means that the notes should be played smoothly and connected, without any separation between them. The slur affects both note duration and articulation .
It is important to note that a slur is different from a tie. A tie is a curved line that connects two notes of the same pitch, indicating that the second note is not played but its value is added to the first note. On the other hand, a slur requires two or more notes, whether they have the same or different pitches, to be played smoothly and connected in legato.
Different instruments may have specific interpretations of slurs. For example, for wind instruments, a slur indicates a lack of tonguing, meaning the notes should be played without re-articulating each note. However, the slide trombone and other instruments that control pitch with a slide may have certain combinations that can be played without using the tongue, resulting in a glissando.
In summary, a slur in music notation is a curved line that connects two or more notes of different pitches, indicating that they should be played smoothly and connected without any separation, with a legato articulation )
A sign in musical notation consisting of a curved line drawn over or under a series of notes, indicating that those notes should be played legato. The slur also indicates the grouping and phrasing of a passage in a composition.
In addition, you can familiarize yourself with the terms:
- [English] slide
- [French] liaison (f)
- [German] Bindebogen
- [German] Bindungszeichen
- [Italian] legatura (f)
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