Arpeggio |
Music Terms

Arpeggio |

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terms and concepts

Arpeggio, arpeggio

ital. arpeggio, from arpeggiare – to play the harp

Playing the sounds of a chord “in a row” one after the other, as on a harp. The premier is applied. when playing the strings. and keyboard instruments. Indicated by a wavy line before the chord and other signs.

When playing keyboards, all arpeggiated sounds are usually sustained until the duration of the chord has elapsed. In very broadly stated fp. chords, in which it is impossible to simultaneously take all the sounds, they are maintained with the help of the right pedal. When playing strings. instruments, in accordance with their capabilities, only 2 upper sounds or 1 highest sound are maintained. The speed of arpeggiation is determined by the nature of the piece. Currently, only arpeggiating the chord from bottom to top, starting with the lowest sound, is used; arpeggiation from top to bottom was also common earlier: (see musical examples).

There was also sequential arpeggiation, first up, then down (by J. S. Bach, G. F. Handel and others).

Ya. I. Milshtein

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