Comme

As Printed on a Score

Printed before an image or a reference point — comme une plainte (like a lament), comme une cloche (like a bell), comme un écho, comme au début (as at the start). It applies to the passage it heads, which may be a single phrase.

How Composers Use It

The French come or quasi. A comme direction gives the player an image to imitate instead of a technical instruction, which leaves the means open: comme une cloche may suggest accent, pedal and a resonant release all at once. Choose images a performer can actually hear. Comme au début is the practical use — a compact way to restore an earlier tempo or character without spelling it out again.

Example

Lili Boulanger, Dans l’immense tristesse, piano, m. 16: “comme une cloche”; later the voice has “comme une plainte” (m. 35).

Related Terms