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Glite Dictionary
🎹 Notes slightly separated 🎹 A detached style
nonlegato

nonlegato

8.4
Played with small gaps between notes so they are not smoothly connected
  • adjective
  • /ˌnɒn.lɪˈɡɑː.toʊ/
  • Specialized
translation icon : no legato
  • The pianist performed the passage in a nonlegato style, making each note distinct.

Examples

  • When the conductor asked for nonlegato articulation, the strings played with gentle separation.

  • Some pieces require a nonlegato approach to highlight the rhythm and phrasing.

  • The pianist played the piece in a nonlegato style.

  • You should practice the passage nonlegato to improve clarity.

  • The pianist performed the passage in a nonlegato style, making each note distinct.

  • When the conductor asked for nonlegato articulation, the strings played with gentle separation.

  • Some pieces require a nonlegato approach to highlight the rhythm and phrasing.

Synonyms

staccato
vsnonlegato
  • Specialized
3 7.3

Sounds that are short and sharp with clear space between each one

is less shortened and only slightly separated rather than sharply detached
nonsustained
vsnonlegato
  • Specialized
6.8

Made short in music so each note ends quickly

focuses on slight separation between notes rather than brief duration

Antonyms

legato
  • Specialized
7.4

To play or sing smoothly so the notes join without breaks

How Connected

legato
  • Specialized
7.4
nonlegato
  • Specialized
8.4
staccato
  • Specialized
3 7.3

Surface Forms

nonlegato positive

Morphology

nonlegato = legato (transparent) = non + legato

The prefix 'non-' clearly negates the musical term 'legato', indicating a style that is not smooth.

Etymology

Nonlegato comes from Italian parts non- ('not') and legato ('tied' or 'connected'), so it literally means 'not tied' and is used when notes are played with a small gap between them.