ornaments

English composer

Definition

Decorative notes added to a melody — trills, mordents, turns, appoggiaturas. In Baroque keyboard music ornaments are semi-obligatory, indicated by signs above the notes.

Interpretive Guidance

Pachelbel's ornament signs follow German Baroque conventions. Trills generally begin on the upper auxiliary note on the beat. In slow movements ornaments add expressive weight; in fast movements they articulate rhythmic points.

Context

Scope Used by Johann Pachelbel
Language English

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