quarter rest
- noun
- /ˈkwɔrtər rɛst/
- Specialized
:
silencio de negra
- In the sheet music for the song, there is a quarter rest that gives the vocalist a brief moment of silence.
Examples
-
The teacher explained that a quarter rest is essential for proper timing in the piece we are rehearsing.
-
Every bar a quarter rest.
-
Your second quarter rest period has been canceled.
-
During the performance, the conductor raised his hand to signal a quarter rest, allowing the musicians to pause slightly before continuing.
How Long
Surface Forms
Morphology
The term combines 'quarter' (one fourth of a whole) with 'rest' (a written symbol for silence), so the meaning—a silence lasting one quarter of a whole note—is directly derivable from its parts. This compositional, domain-specific naming pattern is common in music terminology across languages, making it readily understandable to learners who know both constituents.
Etymology
Quarter rest: The musical name quarter rest comes from written music: a rest is a sign for 'silence' and a quarter means one of four equal parts of a whole note or measure. So a quarter rest tells the player to pause or be silent for one quarter of the piece's regular beat.
