Why do composers write appogiaturas, instead of writing out the note values in full? As far as my very basic understanding goes, an appog takes up half the value of the following note, or two-thirds if the following note is dotted. Is there some harmonic or expressive indication provided by the use of the appogiatura? Thanks.

I'm pretty sure it's to do with the underlying harmony - the main note will be concordant, the appoggiatura will be discordant (in practice it generally ends up being a sort of passing note).

I have wondered about the exact same thing, dorfmouse! I imagine a composer writing all the original notes on paper, then suddenly during a live performance, decided to add more notes. As there was no space left to add those notes on paper, the composer had to squeeze it in as a smaller, optional note... Tada, appoggiatura!

OK, that was just a joke... Just something I used to convince myself then.

I have been told that some ornaments are added during transcription or by editors. Whatever it was, skipping an ornament does not damage the melody or harmony. That should apply to the appoggiatura too.

Here is one some background I found on wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ornament_(music)

One explanation may be that it remains an ornament and so can be varied slightly depending on the way the music is being played and allows more freedom of interpretation/ expression.

If they were written out in full, a musician would feel obliged to play the notes exactly as written. I used to play classical guitar and loved renaissance and baroque music. I vaguely remember pieces where a repeated section sounded better if the repeat was played faster, with the appogiaturas a bit shorter.

Perhaps it's also to help the continuo player with choose the correct harmonies.

Steve

Appoggiaturas, please

Sue MSc (Member of Sticklers' Club)

Sue is absolutely right. It's appoggiatura.

Please write it out twenty times in your best handwriting!

You can finish it during break.

Steve

Ah, I wondered which of the Sticklers would pounce on that first!

*awards gold star to SueHM*

What's the difference between an appoggiatura and a glissando between two notes a semitone apart? Anything?

Appoggiatura comes from the Italian verb meaning "to lean". On the Milan metro I was secretly thrilled to see "Non appoggiarsi" on the sliding doors, meaning literally "do not lean yourself". Even more exciting than seeing "Adagio" on a road sign!!

The way I understand it is that an Appoggiatura is an ornament and used to decorate the music. I actually think that the composers are just trying to make our lives harder! hehe. Seriously though they do turn the music into something pretty and special. I always learn a new piece without the ornaments and then bring them in later.

ET

Thanks all!

Appoggiatura Appoggiatura Appoggiatura Appoggiatura Appoggiatura Appoggiatura Appoggiatura
Appoggiatura Appoggiatura Appoggiatura Appoggiatura Appoggiatura Appoggiatura Appoggiatura
Appoggiatura Appoggiatura Appoggiatura Appoggiatura Appoggiatura Appoggiatura

(That's meant to be a dunces cap!)

Whoops! Dunce's

Writing out the notes instead of an apoggiatura could give some interesting results with figured basses! They just make music of the period in which they were used simpler.

as I was to have a lady call 'piano, piano' after me as I ran down a hotel corridor in Rome.

I believe your piano delivery service went into receivership very shortly after this!

Steve

how did you guess?

*awards TWO gold stars*

[quote name='Aeolienne' date='Sep 29 2008, 11:57 PM' post='746316']
What's the difference between an appoggiatura and a glissando between two notes a semitone apart? Anything?

A glissando is as smooth as possible, whereas the appoggiatura can be played however the composer has directed... thats the main diffenence as far as i can tell. That and the fact that the glissando isn't always half the value of the note following it!!