User manual

Table Of Contents

Articulations

Articulations are markings that are drawn above or below notes and chords. Articulations tell a

performer how to attack a note or how long to play a note relative to its notated duration.

In Dorico Elements, articulations are dened as something that alters the way a note is played,

in a way that is consistent across all instruments. Because instructions like bowing directions,

harmonics, or tonguing apply to different instrument groups, in

Dorico Elements such directions

are dened as playing techniques.

Articulations are categorized into the following types:

Articulations of force

Indicate a stronger attack at the start of notes, and include articulations such as accent

and marcato.

Marcato is also sometimes known as a “strong accent”. Dorico Elements

shows these articulations at the start of a note or tie chain by default.

Articulations of duration

Indicate a shorter duration than notated, and include articulations such as

staccatissimo, staccato, tenuto, and staccato-tenuto.

Staccato-tenuto is also sometimes

known as a “louré”. If a note includes ties, Dorico Elements shows articulations of

duration above the last note in the chain by default.

Articulations of stress

Indicate notes that should be emphasized or not emphasized where that contradicts

the prevailing meter, using stressed and unstressed marks.

Dorico Elements shows

these articulations at the start of a note or tie chain by default.

Dorico Elements positions articulations automatically on the notehead or stem side of notes

and chords, according to the musical context. A note or chord can display one of each type of

articulation.