Learn sheet music – Articulations

Have you ever heard about articulations? If not, it is now time to see what it is and all the differences between some of the articulations marks that you'll need to know with your ocarina.

What is the articulation when we are talking about music theory? In simple words, it's the way how musical notes are divided (it sounds simple, isn't it?).

The most popular articulation marks that you'll see around on your ocarina sheet music are two: legato and staccato.

Legato

If you translate the word from Italian, you'll understand that it means to connect two or more musical notes (tied). When playing your song, you'll simply have to avoid using tonguing when you have to play musical notes in legato.
Be careful not to confuse it with the allungo sign which connects two musical notes of the same height to make a longer one.

This line in the circle is not a legato mark like the long line that connects all of the musical notes in the measure.

Legatissimo

With legatissimo or super legato you keep the musical note over its time, connecting it with the following musical note. This technique is possible with ocarina ensemble groups of two or more players. It can some times be done alone because you'll need a multychambered ocarina. You can do it while sliding from a note on a chamber, to a note in another chamber while continuing to play the previous note.

Staccato

Same as before, if you translate this word from Italian, you'll understand the kind of playing that you are requested to do. In this case you'll have to divide the musical notes because staccato means divided or detached in Italian. While playing in staccato musical notes are a bit shorter. A trick to play in staccato is to halve the length of musical notes.
Be careful not to confuse the staccato with the dotted note. The first is on top of the musical note, the second is on the right.

Staccatissimo

Staccatissimo or molto staccato is the contrary or legatissimo. You can recognize it buy it's drop shape upon the musical note.

Tenuto

It is used to emphasise a musical note playing it louder.

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