noun
- musical ornaments consisting of rapid alternation between a principal note and the note immediately above or below it
Usage: music theory
Examples
- The pianist executed the mordents with precise finger work.
- Bach’s compositions frequently feature elaborate mordents and other ornaments.
- The music teacher explained how to play upper and lower mordents.
- Classical performers must master various mordents to interpret Baroque music authentically.
- The sheet music indicated several mordents with special notation symbols.
- Her technique improved dramatically after practicing scales with mordents.