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 defined as something that alters the way a note is played, in a way that is consistent across all instruments.

As instructions like bowing directions, harmonics, or tonguing apply to different instrument groups, in Dorico Elements such directions are defined as playing techniques, and can be found in the Notations panel on the right of the window.

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.

You can find articulations at the bottom of the Notes panel in Write mode.

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 of the three types of articulations.