mordent

Meanings

1. 1nouncountabletechnicalmusic

   In music, a quick decoration in which a main note is played with a single rapid alternation with the note above or below it.

   Grammar: Countable: a mordent, two mordents. Often used with 'play' or 'add'.

   Patterns

   • play a mordent
   • add a mordent
   • a mordent on a note

   The pianist added a delicate mordent on the final note of the phrase.

   In Baroque music, a mordent is often written as a short squiggle above the note.

   She practiced the mordent slowly until her fingers could play it evenly.

2. 2nouncountabletechnicalmusic

   A musical ornament that begins on the written note, moves quickly to the note below, and returns to the written note.

   Grammar: When distinguishing types, say 'lower mordent' or 'upper mordent'.

   Patterns

   • lower mordent
   • upper mordent
   • inverted mordent

   A lower mordent is sometimes called a 'mordent' by older writers, while the upper one is called an 'inverted mordent'.

   The teacher explained that a mordent should be played lightly, not as a heavy accent.

Word forms

Common combinations

play a mordent

The flutist played a mordent at the end of the long note.

a mordent on the note

The score calls for a mordent on the first note of the bar.

lower mordent

A lower mordent alternates with the note below.

upper mordent

An upper mordent is also known as an inverted mordent.

Synonyms and how they differ

ornament

A general term for any decorative note or group of notes; a mordent is one specific type of ornament.

trill

A trill is a longer, more rapid alternation between two notes; a mordent is much shorter, usually just one quick turn.

Word family

mordent noun

The musical ornament itself.

Commonly confused: mordent or mordant?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “mordent”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

Explore more words