Avec sourdine

As Printed on a Score

Printed above a string or brass part at the first muted note, ideally after rests long enough to fit the mute; cancelled by sans sourdine or ôtez (enlevez) la sourdine. Over a piano part the same words call for the soft pedal and are cancelled the same way.

Also spelled: avec sourdines

How Composers Use It

For strings and brass, avec sourdine is the French con sordino: a veiled, distant tone on strings, a thinner, covered or nasal one on brass depending on the mute. Leave a few bars of rest before the entry so players can fit the mute — and as much again to remove it. In French piano writing the sourdine is the soft pedal, so check which instrument the words sit over before reading them.

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