Cordes

As Printed on a Score

French for the strings as a body, found in instrument lists, collective directions and section labels (les Cordes). Read the context: the singular corde in a technique direction means one string of an instrument — sur la corde de sol (on the G string) — and une corde and trois cordes refer to the piano’s soft pedal.

How Composers Use It

Use it for an instruction meant for every string section at once — sourdines, sur la touche, a collective dynamic — instead of repeating it on five staves. When only part of the strings is meant, say so (cordes sans contrebasses), and make sure a collective direction also says when it ends.

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