Legato playing

Definition

Legato playing is a musical technique where notes are played smoothly and connectedly, without any perceptible breaks in between them. This style of playing emphasizes a flowing, lyrical quality that is especially prominent in Romantic piano music, creating a sense of expressiveness and emotional depth. It contrasts with staccato, where notes are played short and detached, and plays a vital role in conveying the character and phrasing of a piece.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. In Romantic piano music, composers like Chopin and Liszt often utilized legato playing to enhance the lyrical quality of their compositions.
2. Legato is achieved by using techniques such as finger coordination and pedaling to create seamless transitions between notes.
3. The use of legato can evoke strong emotions, making it a favored technique for expressing the deeper feelings found in Romantic repertoire.
4. When practicing legato, pianists focus on maintaining an even tone and consistent touch, which contributes to the fluidity of sound.
5. Legato playing can also involve varying the dynamics to add more character and emotion to the musical phrases.

Review Questions

• How does legato playing influence the emotional expressiveness in Romantic piano music?
  • Legato playing greatly enhances emotional expressiveness in Romantic piano music by allowing musicians to connect notes smoothly and fluidly. This seamless transition creates a lyrical quality that mirrors the expressive nature of Romantic compositions. Composers like Chopin designed their pieces with legato in mind, encouraging performers to convey deep emotions through sustained melodic lines that draw listeners into the music.
• Discuss how articulation and legato playing work together to shape musical phrases.
  • Articulation and legato playing are interdependent techniques that shape musical phrases. While legato focuses on smooth connections between notes, articulation refers to how each note is executed. By combining these techniques, performers can create nuanced phrases that vary in intensity and emotion. For example, applying subtle accents within a legato passage can add depth and emphasis to certain notes, enhancing the overall interpretation of the piece.
• Evaluate the role of legato playing in the overall style and characteristics of Romantic piano music compared to earlier periods.
  • Legato playing is central to the style and characteristics of Romantic piano music, setting it apart from earlier periods like Classical music. In contrast to the more structured and precise articulation typical of Classical compositions, Romantic music embraces a more fluid approach with a focus on emotional expression. The use of legato allows for long melodic lines that convey deep feelings, reflecting the ideals of individualism and passion prevalent during the Romantic era. This emphasis on lyrical quality highlights how composers sought to connect with their audiences on a more personal level through their music.

Related terms

Phrasing: The way musicians shape a sequence of notes in music to express meaning or emotion, often using dynamics and articulation to enhance the musical line.

Articulation: The way in which individual notes are executed in performance, including styles like legato and staccato, influencing the overall feel of the music.

Rubato: A flexible approach to tempo in music, allowing for slight speeding up or slowing down of the rhythm to enhance expressiveness, often used alongside legato playing.