Ardent

As Printed on a Score

Printed above the staff, usually joined to a word that shapes it — soutenu, mais ardent; contenu et ardent — and generally at p or mp rather than loud. It lasts until the next character word; the adverb ardemment appears the same way.

How Composers Use It

Ardent asks for burning intensity, a tone that glows rather than shouts. Lili Boulanger tempers it — soutenu, mais ardent; contenu et ardent — so the heat is held inside a controlled line. Write it on long melodic phrases, especially for strings or voice, and give the dynamic: without one, players will equate ardour with volume.

Example

Boulanger, D’un matin de printemps, violin, m. 68: “soutenu, mais ardent” at p, two bars after the part is marked Solo.

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